The Royal Navy is tracking a Russian reconnaissance ship in the English Channel. To protect the country's maritime infrastructure, the UK will also provide aircraft to the new NATO unit, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense and the UK government website.

Britain said it monitored a Russian spy ship in the English Channel in recent days and would strengthen its response to secret operations by Russian ships and aircraft in an effort to protect undersea cables.

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.