Russian warships surge in UK waters, Royal Navy warns

Royal Navy warns of Russian surge

Offshore patrol vessels HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were deployed to monitor the Russian ships Neustrashimy and Admiral Grigorovich, which were themselves escorting so-called ‘shadow fleet’ tankers through the Dover Strait and North Sea.

Russia uses this network of around 700 ageing tankers to dodge sanctions on its oil exports and help fund its war in Ukraine, part of a pattern that has already seen RAF jets scrambled to intercept incursions near British airspace.

Why the Russian warships are being tracked

HMS Tyne also shadowed the Neustrashimy as it conducted a live firing exercise on 20 July near British and French waters.

Meanwhile the frigate HMS Somerset and helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm monitored Russian activity in the North Atlantic as part of a four-month Nato operation to locate submarines, the latest chapter in escalating tensions with Moscow.

This deployment demonstrates exactly what the Royal Navy exists to do – protect the UK and our allies from wherever our interests are threatened.

HMS Somerset’s commanding officer, Commander Matt Millyard, said he was “immensely proud” of the ship’s company. The warning follows the seizure of the tanker Smyrtos by Royal Marines earlier this year, Metro reported.