Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on national security of the Russian spy vessel Yantar entering British waters.

Russia’s Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research is developing capabilities intended to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime and damage, or even destroy, it during a conflict. These capabilities are deployed from submarines and specialist surface vessels, including Yantar.

MOD takes this threat extremely seriously. The Royal Navy closely track and monitor the activities of the Yantar, and have military options ready to respond if needed.