Britain's Royal Navy has intercepted a Russian spy ship off the coast of Scotland that was monitoring NATO military exercises.
Source: The Telegraph , as reported by European Pravda
Details: The Royal Navy reported on Monday 2 November that Merlin helicopters had been tracking the Viktor Leonov, a Vishnya-class intelligence-gathering ship which had been cruising near the Outer Hebrides from 29 September to 8 October. The helicopters were deployed from their base at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall to Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Captain James Hall, the commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, said: "This operation has been a critical means for demonstrating to ourselves, our adversaries and the nation that we are willing and capable of securing the homeland 24/7. The Merlin Helicopter Force stands ready to answer the call at a moment's notice. "
The vessel had been spying on NATO warships during Exercise Strike Warrior, which involved 2, 000 personnel from six Alliance nations.
Earlier this year, Merlin helicopters were fitted with state-of-the-art sonobuoys as part of a £40 million (almost €48 million) upgrade aimed at improving the tracking of Russian submarines.
The Telegraph noted that Russian activity in and around British waters has increased by 25% during the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2025.
Background: In 2025, the UK reported that it was monitoring a Russian spy ship off the coast of Scotland that was likely gathering data on underwater infrastructure. On 10 September 2026, NATO allies discovered Russian submarines in Arctic waters near the Svalbard archipelago conducting exercises involving a secret weapon designed to disable critical undersea cables. In May it was reported that Germany had sent a reconnaissance ship equipped with state-of-the-art electronic intelligence equipment to the Baltic Sea due to the presence of Russian vessels there.
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