Royal Navy intercepts Russia spy ship off Scotland after catching it 'closely monitoring' Nato war games

Published: 08:39 EDT, 2 November 2026 | Updated: 08:43 EDT, 2 November 2026 The Royal Navy has intercepted a Russian spy ship off the coast of Scotland after catching it 'closely monitoring' Nato war games.Merlin helicopters were dispatched to track the intelligence-gathering vessel, which was found near the Outer Hebrides.The Kremlin has escalated its activity in and around British waters this year, using warships, civilian vessels and fishing ships.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.The ship was spying on NATO warships taking part in Exercise Strike Warrior, a drill involving 2,000 personnel from six of the alliance’s nations.The helicopters were dispatched from their base at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall to Glasgow Prestwick airport. Captain James Hall, the commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, said: 'I am immensely proud of the efforts of our people, who have once again demonstrated that the UK is prepared to respond to immediate operational requirements.'He continued: '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 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 stands ready to answer the call at a moment’s notice.'Earlier this year, the Merlin force was updated with state-of-the-art sonobuoys as part of a £40m revamp to improve their tracking of the Kremlin's submarines. Last month, HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, and HMS Tyne, a patrol vessel, were sent to track a Russian frigate escorting sanctioned cargo ships through the Channel.The ships followed the Russian Federation Navy (RFN) Neustrashimy from October 1 to 14. HMS Tyne was then deployed with a Wildcat helicopter to monitor RFN Aleksandr Shabalin, which had also been escorting a cargo vessel, from October 11 to 14. An RAF drone was also deployed to monitor the warships.The unarmed RAF Protector RG1 spent over 10 hours tracking foreign vessels from late September to mid-October.Russian activity in and around British waters has increased 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 13Royal Marine Commandos stormed Smyrtos, the Russian shadow-fleet tanker, in a six-hour military operation in June.The seizure of the ship, ordered by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, followed months of warnings that Russian shadow tankers were being used by Vladimir Putin to trade sanctioned oil and were travelling through the English Channel with impunity. On Sunday, John Healey admitted his plan to increase the defence budget to 3 per cent of GDP is a 'target', raising concerns it will not be reached by 2030.The Chancellor said that Britain would 'look to' hit a 'target date' of spending 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade, but declined to establish a firm 'commitment'.