The British navy said Wednesday that is ramping up measures to protect its waters from secret Russian operations after identifying a Russian spy vessel in UK waters for the second time in weeks.

The Russian spy ship Yantar, suspected of gathering information, including on underwater cables, appeared near the coast of the United Kingdom. Defence Minister John Healey confirmed that the ship entered the country's exclusive economic zone.

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.