London, Nov 24 (NationPress) The Royal Navy has successfully intercepted a Russian warship along with a tanker just off the coast of Britain during a surveillance operation conducted in the last two weeks, as reported by the UK's defence ministry.

The HMS Severn, a Royal Navy patrol vessel, closely monitored the RFN Stoikiy corvette and the accompanying tanker as they navigated through the Dover Strait and moved westward in the English Channel. The exact timing of the interception has not been disclosed by the ministry.

After the initial observation, the HMS Severn transferred the monitoring responsibilities to “a NATO ally,” while it continued to keep a watchful eye from a distance, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

This interception followed a statement from British Defence Secretary John Healey on Wednesday, highlighting that a Russian vessel named Yantar, which was near British waters, had directed lasers toward Royal Air Force pilots tracking its movements.

While the UK government labeled the Yantar as a “Russian spy ship,” the Russian embassy in Britain claimed it was simply an “oceanographic research vessel” operating legally in international waters, asserting that Russia’s actions did not threaten British interests or security.

The Russian Embassy in London dismissed the UK’s accusations as an attempt to “whip up militaristic hysteria,” reiterating that Russia respects international law and has no intention of endangering British security.

In light of escalating threats from Russia, China, and Iran, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has committed to increasing military funding, though the Treasury is grappling with tough choices to address a multi-billion-pound deficit.