Ukraine war latest: Russian spy ship 'detected loitering' in British waters 'gathering intelligence'

Means to check foreign vessels in UK waters 'not available'

The defence secretary has warned that many of the options he'd like to have for keeping foreign vessels in UK waters in check are simply "not available" under international law. 

John Healey said: "We defend more fiercely than perhaps any other nation in the world the freedom of navigation in our seas, and the ships of all states may navigate through our territorial waters, they are subject to the right of innocent passage.

"So some of the steps... are simply not available to us under the United Nations law of the open seas."

Why is Russia spying on undersea cables?

We've been reporting that a Russian spy ship has been monitored on British waters loitering and gathering intelligence on undersea infrastructure. 

But why?

Moscow operates a "shadow fleet" of vessels deployed around the world, used for transporting embargoed Russian oil products.

But one of these vessels - the Eagle S, a tanker registered with the Cook Islands - is suspected by Finnish police of having damaged the Estlink 2 electricity cable, which became disconnected on 25 December.

It is just one in a series of incidents of Russia-linked vessels damaging underwater infrastructure in what NATO allies have described as being part of a campaign of hybrid warfare under the threshold of conventional conflict.

Why is Russia targeting undersea cables?

Plainly, it's an effective way to damage Russia's opponents. 

By cutting cables, Moscow can force fyberoptic outages across several areas or even entire countries - which could significantly slow down crucial communications in key areas like the military or government. 

That's without mentioning the considerable cost incurred to repair anything damaged or to protect vast swathes of ocean in the future. 

A top NATO official told Sky News in an interview in December there is a "real prospect" an unconventional attack by Russia against NATO - such as an act of sabotage or arson - could even cause "substantial" casualties.

James Appathurai said then allies must be clearer among themselves and with Moscow about what level of grey zone hostilities could trigger an allied response, including the use of military force.

How the UK is using AI to protect underwater infrastructure

The UK has already taken steps to protect undersea cables from potential Russian sabotage. 

Security and defence editor Deborah Haynes explained at the start of this month that Britain and other European countries had turned to artificial intelligence to protect infrastructure beneath the waves. 

The Ministry of Defence said the UK-led "reaction system" - an AI-assisted computer program - would use AI to monitor large areas of the sea and track vessels by drawing on a variety of data, including the Automatic Identification System (AIS) ships use to broadcast their position.

Particular ships of interest include a so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels deployed around the world transporting embargoed Russian oil products.

Defence secretary: We know what Putin is doing

A bit more on the news that a Russian spy ship has been tracked in UK waters this week. 

Speaking in the Commons, defence secretary John Healey, having laid out the details we shared in our 13.41 post, also issued a personal message directed to the Russian president. 

"I also wanted President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you're doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country," he said. 

Royal Navy vessels shadow 'Russian spy ship'

The Royal Navy has issued these images of two of its vessels flanking the ship Yanter near British waters.

As per our last post, Defence Secretary John Healey described Yanter as a "Russian spy ship", and said it had been loitering and monitoring underwater infrastructure this week and back in November. 

Russian spy ship 'detected loitering' in British waters 'gathering intelligence'

Royal Navy vessels were sent to track to monitor a Russian "spy ship" that entered British waters this week, the UK defence secretary has said. 

John Healey told the Commons: "The foreign ship Yantar is currently in the North Sea having passed through British waters.

"Let me be clear, this is a Russian spy ship used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK's critical underwater infrastructure," he said. 

Two vessels were sent to monitor the ship. 

"Yantar entered the UK exclusive economic zone about 45 miles off the British coast on Monday," he added.

"For the last two days the Royal Navy has deployed HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne to monitor the vessel every minute through our waters."

Navy sub used on previous encounter 

It is the second time the ship has entered UK waters, Healey said.

"In November, the ship was also closely watched and detected loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure. To deter any potential threat, I took measured steps," he said. 

"I can confirm to the House that I authorised a Royal Navy submarine, strictly as a deterrent measure, to surface close to the Yantar to make clear that we had been covertly monitoring its every move.

"The ship then left UK waters without further loitering and sailed down to the Mediterranean."

Poland tells Europe to welcome Trump's demand to dramatically increase defence spending

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says Europe should welcome rather than rebuff Donald Trump's call for other NATO members to ramp up their military spending.

Trump has said members of the military alliance should spend 5% of GDP on defence – a huge increase from the 2% goal and a level no NATO country, including the US, spends.

"We shouldn't be irritated. We shouldn't be appalled," Tusk told European Parliament politicians. 

"Some think it's extravagant or it is a brutal or malicious warning."

He continued: "Only an ally can wish another ally to get stronger. This is not what an opponent of Europe would say."

Poland spends the most among NATO members as a proportion of its GDP, at 4.1% in 2024.

Eight of the alliance's 32 members spend less than 2%. 

"I would like to tell you that this is a time when Europe cannot afford to save on security," Tusk said.

Russia has attacked Ukrainian energy facilities '1,200 times'

Russia has attacked Ukrainian energy facilities 1,200 times since its invasion began in 2022, Ukraine's deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said.

She told a news briefing in Davos the figure included attacks on more than 800 electricity substations, distribution and power lines, more than 250 strikes on energy generation facilities and more than 30 on gas facilities.

Over the course of 2022-23, about half of Ukraine's power generation capacity was either occupied by Russian forces, destroyed or damaged, according to the International Energy Agency.

The battlefield situation

These maps show the battlefield situation in Ukraine. 

The first shows a general view of Ukraine's eastern front, with a closer look at the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk regions as you scroll left to right. 

The final map shows Ukraine's progress in the Kursk region of Russia, after invading the area last August. 

Zelenskyy discusses security collaboration with Israeli president

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he discussed security collaboration when meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog yesterday.

The Ukrainian leader also said he was "glad to see people who were in captivity returning home" after three Israeli hostages held in Gaza were released by Hamas last week.

A statement from the website of the Ukrainian presidency website added that Zelenskyy and his people "deeply understand the pain" of having loved ones held in captivity.

It added that Zelenskyy also "expressed hope for continued security and stability throughout the Middle East region".

Russia sees 'small window of opportunity' for agreements with Trump

Russia's deputy foreign minister has said Moscow sees a "small window of opportunity" to forge agreements with the new Trump administration.

Sergei Ryabkov also hit out at Joe Biden in quotes reported by Russian state media outlet Interfax.

"We cannot say anything today about the degree of the incoming administration's capacity to negotiate, but still, compared to the hopelessness in every aspect of the previous White House chief, there is a window of opportunity today, albeit a small one," Ryabkov said.

"It's therefore important to understand with what and whom we will have to deal, how best to build relations with Washington, how best to maximise opportunities and minimise risks."

For context: Trump has said his administration is "going to be talking with President Putin very soon" over the prospect of peace in Ukraine (see 8.56am post).

He also warned that the US could impose further sanctions on Russia if Moscow refuses to negotiate to end the war in Ukraine.

Russian forces 'capture village' in Kharkiv

Moscow's troops have captured the settlement of Zapadne in Ukraine's northern Kharkiv region, defence officials have said.

The Interfax news agency cited Russia's defence ministry for the update, which has not been independently verified.

We'll bring you more on this as we get it. 

Here's the latest battlefield update for the frontline, including the assessed Russian gains in the Kharkiv region.

Russia fired 99 drones at Ukraine overnight, says air force

Ukraine's air force says Russia launched 99 drones overnight on the country.

Of those, it says 65 were downed and 30 others disappeared from radar without reaching their targets. 

The air force reported damage in six regions across Ukraine as a result of the attack.

-SKY NEWS