BACK OFF, VLAD

Defence Sec's fury at President, Moscow threat is 'real and rising'

- DAVE BURKE AND LIZZY BUCHAN

THREATS to the UK are real and rising, the Defence Secretary warned after lasers were aimed at RAF pilots from a Russian spy ship.

John Healey said President Vladimir Putin is ramping up his aggression and urged the public to recognise a “new era of threat”.

Mr Healey dramatically revealed yesterday that the Navy and Air Force had been deployed against a Kremlin spy ship, the Yantar.

He confirmed lasers had been directed at British planes, which he branded deeply dangerous, and warned the Russian tyrant: “We see you”.

However, the row escalated last night as the Russian embassy in London accused the government of being “Russophobic” and “whipping up militaristic hysteria’.

Mr Healey had warned the military would engage with the Yantar, designed to carry out surveillance in peacetime and sabotage in conflict, if it changed course. It was yesterday on the edge of British waters north of Scotland.

A Ministry of Defence source said it had crossed into UK waters between November 5 and 11.

Mr Healey said: “It’s a reminder for people that we see Putin stepping up his attacks in Ukraine, but he’s stepping up his aggression more widely.