The UK’s Royal Navy launched a frantic search for phantom Russians off the coast after picking up two mysterious sounds in the ocean — only to conclude that the noises came from a gassy whale, an official told The Sun.

Defence Secretary John Healey said Russia "remains the most pressing and immediate threat to Britain", and added that "any threat will be met with strength and resolve".

The Defence Secretary told the Russian leader: "We see you, we know what you are doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country." It came as the minister told MPs the Russian vessel, Yanta, was currently in the North Sea having passed through British waters.

In a message to Vladimir Putin, Defence Secretary John Healey said ‘we see you, we know what you are doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country’

Defence secretary John Healey said the Russian vessel Yantar is being 'used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure'

British Defence Secretary John Healey told parliament Wednesday the Royal Navy tracked a “Russian spy ship” that passed through UK waters, warning Russia’s President Vladimir Putin: “We know what you’

A Russian "spy ship" was tracked by the Royal Navy as it entered British waters, UK Defence Secretary John Healey told parliament Wednesday amid heightened concerns over the security of underwater infrastructure.

A Russian spy ship has been monitored by the Royal Navy after it entered UK waters earlier this week, the defence secretary has said - as he issued a warning to President Vladimir Putin.

A BARROW-built Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine was used to warn off one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's spy ships operating around

The nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarine surfaced close to the Yantar to let the Russian ship know it was being watched.

A Royal Navy submarine surfaced just yards from ... in remarks directed at Vladimir Putin, warned ‘we see you, we know what you are doing’. He told the House of Commons that the Yantar ...