Royal Navy Intercepts Russian Spy Ship Off Scotland

The Royal Navy intercepted a Russian spy ship off Scotland after it was detected closely monitoring NATO war games.

Merlin helicopters were sent to track the intelligence-gathering vessel after it was spotted near the Outer Hebrides.

Russian activity in and around British waters has intensified this year, involving warships, civilian vessels and fishing boats.

According to the Royal Navy, the Merlin helicopter force followed Viktor Leonov, a Vishnya-class intelligence-gathering ship, as it operated near the Outer Hebrides between September 29 and October 8.

The vessel was monitoring NATO warships involved in Exercise Strike Warrior, a military drill bringing together 2,000 personnel from six alliance nations.

The helicopters were flown from their base at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall to Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Captain James Hall, commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, said: ‘I am immensely proud of our people, who have once again shown that the UK can respond to immediate operational requirements.’

He added: ‘This operation has been an important way of demonstrating to ourselves, our adversaries and the nation that we are willing and able to protect the homeland 24/7.

Russian intelligence-gathering ship Viktor Leonov (pictured above from a Merlin Helicopter off Scotland) was intercepted near the Outer Hebrides last month

The Merlin helicopter force tracked Viktor Leonov, the Vishnya-class intelligence-gathering ship, as it sailed near the Outer Hebrides from September 29 to October 8, according to the Royal Navy [File photo]

‘The Merlin Helicopter Force is ready to respond at a moment’s notice.’

A Navy source told Our News Outlet that the Russian presence had been ‘expected’, describing the use of spy ships to watch major NATO exercises as ‘relatively routine’.

‘They will come out for major exercises such as Strike Warrior. It is routine. We always expect the Russians when exercises like this take place,’ the source said.

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Earlier this year, the Merlin force received state-of-the-art sonobuoys as part of a £40m upgrade designed to improve its ability to track Russian submarines.

Last month, the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and patrol vessel HMS Tyne were deployed to follow a Russian frigate escorting sanctioned cargo ships through the Channel.

The vessels tracked the Russian Federation Navy (RFN) Neustrashimy from October 1 to 14.

HMS Tyne was subsequently deployed alongside a Wildcat helicopter to monitor RFN Aleksandr Shabalin, which had also been escorting a cargo vessel, between October 11 and 14.

An RAF drone was also sent to observe the warships.

The unarmed RAF Protector RG1 spent more than 10 hours tracking foreign vessels between late September and mid-October.

Russian activity in and around British waters rose by 25 per cent during the first seven months of the year compared with the same period in 2025.

HMS Tyne (left) intercepts RFN Aleksandr Shabalin as she escorts a cargo ship and tug, October 13

Royal Marine Commandos boarded Smyrtos, a Russian shadow-fleet tanker, during a six-hour military operation in June.

The seizure, ordered by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, came after months of warnings that Russian shadow tankers were being used by Vladimir Putin to transport sanctioned oil and were passing through the English Channel without facing consequences.

On Sunday, John Healey acknowledged that his plan to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP is a ‘target’, prompting concerns that the figure may not be reached by 2030.

The Chancellor said Britain would ‘look to’ achieve a ‘target date’ for spending 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade, but stopped short of making a firm ‘commitment’.