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 British Royal Navy is closely monitoring the movements of the Russian spy ship Yantar in the English Channel, the United Kingdom reported on Wednesday.

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 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.