Britain monitored Russian spy ship that entered UK waters, minister confirms

The Royal Navy monitored a Russian spy ship after it entered U.K. waters, British Defense Secretary John Healey said Wednesday.

In a statement to British lawmakers, Healey confirmed the foreign vessel, called Yantar, was currently in the North Sea after passing through British waters.

"Let me be clear, this is a Russian spy ship used for gathering intelligence and mapping the U.K.'s critical underwater infrastructure," he said, stating it entered the U.K.'s exclusive economic zone about 45 miles off the British coast Monday.