Russian ships damaging UK underwater cables face raid by Royal Marine Commandos, signals Defence Secretary - The UK is ready to take ‘the strongest possible response’ as part of its ‘homeland’ securit

U.K. Defence Secretary John Healy revealed to Parliament on Wednesday that he had ordered a Royal Navy submarine to surface close to Russian surveillance ship Yantar in November as a deterrent measure after it was detected loitering over critical undersea infrastructure in the U.

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.

The Royal Navy has been monitoring a Russian spy ship after it was spotted around UK waters earlier this week, 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.

The UK authorized the British submarine to surface closely to the Russian vessel to warn it off, British defense secretary Healey said.

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