Yantar is formally a research vessel under the Russian Navy, and has been accused of espionage on previous occasions.
"It's a ship that's there to gather intelligence and map our undersea cables," Healey said, according to Sky News .
A British naval ship and several RAF planes have been dispatched to follow the Russian ship. In connection with this, the crew aboard the Yantar has aimed lasers at the pilots in the air, according to John Healey.
The Russian actions are very dangerous and this is the second time this year that this ship, the Jantar, has been sent to British waters, says the minister.
So my message to Russia and to (President) Putin is this: We see you, we know what you are doing and if Yantar sails south this week, we are ready.
At the press conference, the Minister of Defense will explain the Labor government's investments in military defense, and describe a threat image that will motivate these in a "new threatening era."
