A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, has entered British waters and reportedly aimed lasers at RAF pilots, according to UK Defense Secretary John Healey.

The vessel, designed for intelligence gathering and mapping undersea cables, is operating near the edge of Britain’s exclusive economic zone north of Scotland.

Healey warned Russia that Britain is monitoring the ship closely and has military options ready if it moves further south, while Russia claims the Yantar is a research vessel operating in international waters.

This is the first reported instance of Russian lasers targeting British aircraft, though the Yantar has been noted in UK waters earlier this year, CNN has reported.

Healey described the incident as part of a “new era of threat,” emphasizing ongoing vigilance against Russian incursions and sabotage across Europe.