Last week, Defence Secretary John Healey updated the public on the Russian “spy ship” Yantar, which was north of Scotland just outside UK territorial waters . “We are ready,” Healey said, while seemingly reserving the right to use force if the vessel entered British waters.

The ship ultimately headed off towards the Faroe Islands, tracked by a Royal Navy frigate. Days later, the Royal Navy tracked a Russian navy corvette and tanker passing through the English Channel on their way to Africa.

Both incidents raised fears of new Russian aggression and encroachments into the UK’s waters. New Feature

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Russian maritime mischief isn’t new. Thirty years ago, I tracked Russian warships, submarines and spy vessels around the UK when I was a

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