The Defence Secretary told the Russian leader: "We see you, we know what you are doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country." It came as the minister told MPs the Russian vessel, Yanta, was currently in the North Sea having passed through British waters.

The Royal Navy has been monitoring a Russian spy ship after it entered British waters, the defence secretary has told MPs. John Healey said the vessel, Yantar, was used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK's critical underwater infrastructure. He said the incident was "another example of growing Russian aggression".

The British Navy detected a Russian spy ship in the English Channel this week. This vessel had previously been observed near critical underwater infrastructure in British waters. The spy ship was tracked a few weeks after it was first seen over crucial underwater infrastructure in British waters.

The British Royal Navy is closely monitoring the movements of the Russian spy ship Yantar in the English Channel, the United Kingdom reported on Wednesday.

U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey told British lawmakers on Tuesday that a Russian spy ship entered British waters this week, the BBC reports.

Britain said it monitored a Russian spy ship in the English Channel in recent days and would strengthen its response to secret operations by Russian ships and aircraft in an effort to protect undersea cables.

A Royal Navy submarine was authorized to surface close to a Russian ship "strictly as a deterrent measure," British Defense Secretary John Healey said.