Royal Navy crews have shadowed a Russian warship and freighter through British waters, amid warnings that Moscow is sending increasing numbers of vessels through UK seas. Teams aboard HMS Iron Duke and a Wildcat helicopter tracked the warship RFN Neustrashimy as it escorted cargo ship Sparta IV through the North Sea and English Channel.
Defence minister Luke Pollard said Russian warships are increasingly transiting through the English Channel. "The Royal Navy protects the UK 24/7 to monitor Russian movements, ensuring the security of our waters and undersea cables," he said.
Three-day monitoring operation
The Wildcat helicopter from Yeovilton's 815 Naval Air Squadron in Somerset joined Plymouth-based HMS Iron Duke for the three-day operation. It marked the 18th time the Type 23 frigate had been activated on this type of mission in the past 12 months, during which it has monitored 25 Russian vessels.
Another NATO force began monitoring Sparta IV near the French island of Ushant, off Brittany, as it continued towards the Mediterranean. The Navy continued watching RFN Neustrashimy as it sailed back through the English Channel and North Sea towards the Baltic, with the mission ending on Tuesday.
National security focus
Commander David Armstrong said the ship's company was extremely proud of their direct contribution to UK national interests. "It is important as an island nation to steadfastly safeguard the security of our seas," he said, highlighting the Royal Navy's commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure including energy, data, food and trade.
Rising NATO tensions
The operation occurred amid heightened tensions between Moscow and NATO countries following suspected Russian incursions into NATO airspace. Poland downed drones that violated its airspace on 10 September as Russia launched aerial attacks on Ukraine.
Russian pilots later staged a 12-minute incursion into Estonian airspace. Danish police are investigating drones that appeared over Copenhagen Airport on Monday night, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described allegations linking them to Russia as "unfounded".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
