Russia has issued a stark warning to Western countries over efforts to disrupt its so-called shadow fleet, raising fears that the confrontation could spill into international shipping lanes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened retaliation if Western nations move to seize Russian vessels or assets linked to the shadow fleet. Moscow says such actions would amount to piracy and has warned that any response would not necessarily take place in the same waters.

The escalating tensions are creating a major challenge for Britain’s Royal Navy, which is already monitoring Russian warships and shadow fleet vessels around UK waters. Reports cited in the segment suggest concerns over whether the Royal Navy has sufficient ships, weapons and resources to protect commercial shipping across vast maritime routes.

As Russia and the West clash over sanctioned oil shipments, the world’s major shipping lanes could become the next arena of confrontation.

Russia Threatens Western Ships | Britain’s Royal Navy Faces Major Firepower Crisis

Britain on Wednesday (Nov 19) accused Russia of escalating its provocations after a Russian intelligence ship entered UK waters and, according to officials, aimed lasers at Royal Air Force pilots monitoring its movements. Defence Secretary John Healey said the spy vessel, the Yantar, was sitting on the edge of British territorial waters north of Scotland and was built for one purpose, "gathering intelligence and mapping Britain’s undersea cables". Warning that the UK was facing a "new era of threat" from hostile actors, Healey said that Russia's actions are "deeply dangerous".<h2>What did Russia do?</h2>Healey told an audience in London that an RAF Poseidon-8 aircraft was dispatched to track the Russian spy ship Yantar and that the British ship's crew reported being targeted by Russian lasers during the mission. He called the move dangerous and warned Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Britain was prepared to act if the vessel moved further south. "We see you, we know what you’re doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready," he said, adding that the government would not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraine.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-push-russia-s-maximalist-terms-ask-ukraine-to-cede-territory-halve-army-report-1763599584268">US to push Russia's 'maximalist terms,' ask Ukraine to cede territory, halve army: Report</a>Healey said that the government would continue to be vigilant "just as we have been about incursions into NATO airspace, just as we are being now in terms of identifying the Russian spy ship in UK waters and just as we have continued to be in response to sabotage threats that we have seen across many different European countries as well."<h2>Russia slams UK's 'Russophobic provocation'</h2>Russia's embassy in London pushed back, calling what Healey said "the latest provocative statements" and insisting the Yantar was an "oceanographic research vessel" operating in international waters. While denying accusations of targeting UK underwater communications or undermining the nation's security, the embassy alleged that the British government was stoking "militaristic hysteria" and worsening European security. "London’s Russophobic course and the whipping up of militaristic hysteria are contributing to the further degradation of European security, creating the conditions for new dangerous situations," it said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-signs-bill-ordering-full-release-of-epstein-files-breaking-news-1763602066605">Trump signs bill ordering full release of Epstein files, but insists whole thing is a Democrat hoax</a><h2>Where is Yantar?</h2>The Yantar, as per Britain’s PA Media news agency, is inside the UK’s exclusive economic zone, which stretches 200 nautical miles from the coast, but has so far avoided crossing into territorial waters (stretching 12 nautical miles from the shores). British officials claim the ship belongs to Russia’s secretive deep-sea unit, known as GUGI, and has been observed mapping Western undersea cables in the past. While the UK has raised concerns about the Yantar before, Healey said this is the first time Moscow has directly targeted British pilots."We take it extremely seriously," said the UK defense secretary, adding that in response, he had updated the navy's rules of engagement "so that we can follow more closely, monitor more closely, the activities of the Yantar when it’s in our wider waters". &nbsp;

Britain says a Russian spy ship aimed lasers at RAF pilots as it skirted UK waters near Scotland. While UK Defence Secretary John Healey accused Moscow of mapping undersea cables, Russia called the claims a Russophobic provocation. All you need to know.

Britain on Wednesday (Nov 19) accused Russia of escalating its provocations after a Russian intelligence ship entered UK waters and, according to officials, aimed lasers at Royal Air Force pilots monitoring its movements. Defence Secretary John Healey said the spy vessel, the Yantar, was sitting on the edge of British territorial waters north of Scotland and was built for one purpose, "gathering intelligence and mapping Britain’s undersea cables". Warning that the UK was facing a "new era of threat" from hostile actors, Healey said that Russia's actions are "deeply dangerous". What did Russia do? Healey told an audience in London that an RAF Poseidon-8 aircraft was dispatched to track the Russian spy ship Yantar and that the British ship's crew reported being targeted by Russian lasers during the mission. He called the move dangerous and warned Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Britain was prepared to act if the vessel moved further south. "We see you, we know what you’re doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready," he said, adding that the government would not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraine. Also read | US to push Russia's 'maximalist terms,' ask Ukraine to cede territory, halve army: Report Healey said that the government would continue to be vigilant "just as we have been about incursions into NATO airspace, just as we are being now in terms of identifying the Russian spy ship in UK waters and just as we have continued to be in response to sabotage threats that we have seen across many different European countries as well." Russia slams UK's 'Russophobic provocation' Russia's embassy in London pushed back, calling what Healey said "the latest provocative statements" and insisting the Yantar was an "oceanographic research vessel" operating in international waters. While denying accusations of targeting UK underwater communications or undermining the nation's security, the embassy alleged that the British government was stoking "militaristic hysteria" and worsening European security. "London’s Russophobic course and the whipping up of militaristic hysteria are contributing to the further degradation of European security, creating the conditions for new dangerous situations," it said. Also read | Trump signs bill ordering full release of Epstein files, but insists whole thing is a Democrat hoax Where is Yantar? The Yantar, as per Britain’s PA Media news agency, is inside the UK’s exclusive economic zone, which stretches 200 nautical miles from the coast, but has so far avoided crossing into territorial waters (stretching 12 nautical miles from the shores). British officials claim the ship belongs to Russia’s secretive deep-sea unit, known as GUGI, and has been observed mapping Western undersea cables in the past. While the UK has raised concerns about the Yantar before, Healey said this is the first time Moscow has directly targeted British pilots. "We take it extremely seriously," said the UK defense secretary, adding that in response, he had updated the navy's rules of engagement "so that we can follow more closely, monitor more closely, the activities of the Yantar when it’s in our wider waters".

Britain says a Russian spy ship aimed lasers at RAF pilots as it skirted UK waters near Scotland. While UK Defence Secretary John Healey accused Moscow of mapping undersea cables, Russia called the claims a Russophobic provocation. All you need to know.

'We see you': Britain accuses Russia of aiming lasers at RAF crew as spy ship Yantar enters UK waters

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Russia Threatens Western Ships | Britain’s Royal Navy Faces Major Firepower Crisis

'We see you': Britain warns Putin after Russian spy ship Yantar enters UK waters