Defence Secretary’s two phrase warning to Putin after Russia goals lasers at RAF jets
Defence Secretary John Healey has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin as he revealed that a Russian spy ship hovering on the edge of UK waters shone lasers at RAF pilots.
Mr Healey told a Downing Street press conference: “As I speak a Russian spy ship, the Yantar, is on the edge of UK waters, north of Scotland, having entered the UK’s wider waters over the last few weeks. This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping out undersea cables.
“We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF plans to monitor and track this vessel’s every move, during which the Yantar directed lasers at our pilots. That Russian action is deeply dangerous, and this is the second time this year that this ship began to deploy to UK waters. So my message to Russia and to Putin is this we see you, we know what you’re doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we’re ready.
He added: “This is also a stark reminder that we are in a new era of threat. Our world is changing. It’s less predictable. It is more dangerous.”
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