John Healey

A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, has reportedly used lasers to disrupt Royal Air Force pilots tracking its movements near UK waters, Defence Secretary John Healey has said. He described the incident as “deeply dangerous” and said the government was treating it with the utmost seriousness.

Healey said the ship, operating north of Scotland, had entered UK waters for the second time this year. It was being monitored by a Royal Navy frigate and RAF Poseidon P-8 aircraft at the time. The laser incident is understood to have occurred within the last two weeks.

“My message to Russia and to …