UK issues stark warning: Russian ship enters British waters

London: The UK issued a sharp warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday after revealing that a Russian military vessel had entered British waters and used lasers against UK pilots, prompting a rapid military response and heightening concerns over Moscow’s activities around Europe’s critical infrastructure.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the Russian ship Yantar had “entered the UK’s wider waters over the last few weeks” and was now operating “on the edge of UK waters, north of Scotland,” marking its second intrusion this year after a similar incident in January.

“The Yantar is on the edge of UK waters… having entered the UK’s wider waters over the last few weeks,” Healey told reporters at Downing Street. A Royal Navy frigate and Royal Air Force aircraft were deployed to “monitor and track this vessel’s every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots.”

Calling the laser use “deeply dangerous,” Healey issued a direct message to Moscow: “We see you. We know what you’re doing. If the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.”

British officials say the vessel is part of a Russian fleet designed to threaten undersea infrastructure, including telecom and energy cables used by the UK and NATO allies. A series of mysterious undersea cable disruptions in recent months has intensified fears that Russia is waging a hybrid campaign against Europe as the war in Ukraine grinds on.

The tensions come as the European Union unveiled new measures aimed at strengthening Europe’s ability to move troops and heavy equipment swiftly across the continent in the event of conflict. EU defence chief Andrius Kubilius said the bloc’s current fragmented system creates dangerous delays, noting that even in peacetime “speed is the cornerstone of warfare and deterrence.”

At present, tanks and military convoys must secure country-by-country transit approvals, and many routes include bridges or roads too weak to handle heavy vehicles. EU auditors have warned that military mobility across the 27-nation bloc remains “problematic,” citing unclear responsibilities and outdated infrastructure.

A European Commission plan presented Wednesday proposes a single EU-wide permit for troop movements, emergency priority-passage rules, and a solidarity mechanism to pool dual-use transport assets. Brussels is seeking 17 billion euros between 2028 and 2034 to upgrade the continent’s key corridors, where around 500 choke points have been identified.

Kubilius said the reforms marked a “substantial step forward,” quoting US General John J. Pershing: “Infantry wins battles; logistics wins wars.”

NATO’s eastern flank also remained on alert Wednesday after Romania and Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to Russian strikes on Ukraine. Romania said a drone entered its airspace for several minutes before disappearing from radar, triggering phone alerts to residents and the launch of F-16 jets. Moldova also reported a drone breach and summoned the Russian ambassador over a “serious violation of national sovereignty.”

Poland, which has previously shot down Russian drones, scrambled aircraft after attacks on Ukraine but reported no airspace breach.

The heightened readiness follows an evacuation in Romania earlier this week after a Russian drone strike across the Danube sparked a fire on a ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas.

A massive overnight Russian drone and missile barrage struck the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, killing 19 people and injuring 66, including 16 children, Ukrainian authorities said. Two nine-storey apartment blocks were hit as Russia fired 476 drones and 48 missiles, with air defences intercepting most but not all.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who travelled to Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the attack showed that “the pressure on Russia is insufficient.” F-16 and Mirage-2000 jets supplied by Western allies intercepted at least 10 missiles.

Romania and Poland also scrambled jets as part of NATO’s response posture. Meanwhile, Russia said Ukraine fired four US-supplied ATACMS missiles at Voronezh, all of which were intercepted, though debris damaged civilian buildings.