A dramatic, previously secret image has been released by the Ministry of Defence, showing a Royal Navy submarine confronting the Russian intelligence-gathering ship Yantar in a bold show of force.
Covert Monitoring and a Deliberate Show of Force
The declassified photograph, made public on Sunday, 28 December 2025, captures a pivotal moment from a tense incident in November 2024. Defence Secretary John Healey informed MPs in January that he had personally authorised a Royal Navy submarine to surface close to the Yantar as a strict deterrent measure. The intent, he stated, was to "make clear that we had been covertly monitoring its every move."
This underwater confrontation was part of a broader, multi-faceted operation to shadow the Russian vessel. Alongside the submarine, the UK deployed RAF maritime patrol aircraft, the Royal Navy ships HMS Cattistock and HMS Tyne, and the auxiliary vessel RFA Proteus to track the Yantar's movements meticulously.
A Pattern of Dangerous Russian Activity
The standoff followed earlier revelations by Mr Healey in November 2024 that the Yantar had been shining lasers at RAF pilots and loitering at the edge of UK territorial waters. The Defence Secretary condemned this as a "deeply dangerous action" and highlighted the ship's design for intelligence collection and mapping critical undersea infrastructure.
"The ship then left UK waters – without further loitering – and sailed down to the Mediterranean," Mr Healey told Parliament. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson reinforced the government's stance, stating: "As the Defence Secretary has said, our message to President Putin is clear: We see you. We know what you are doing. And we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country."
Safeguarding Undersea Infrastructure
The MoD explicitly linked the incident to the ongoing threat posed by Russia's Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), which is suspected of targeting subsea cables and pipelines. The spokesperson outlined a comprehensive response, which includes:
- Introducing over 900 new sanctions against individuals, entities, and ships under the Russia sanctions regime.
- Routinely shadowing Russian vessels operating near UK waters.
- Accelerating the development of advanced anti-submarine warfare technology.
Central to this strategy is the Atlantic Bastion programme, an initiative aimed at creating a new hybrid navy. This force will integrate autonomous vessels, AI-enabled sensors, warships, and aircraft to protect vital undersea infrastructure from evolving threats.
The release of the image serves as a powerful public signal of the UK's resolve to detect, deter, and counter hostile activity in its waters, turning a covert encounter into a clear statement of national defence.
