UK News Royal Navy shadows nine Russian warships around the UK

Nine Russian warships have been monitored by the Royal Navy as they sailed in waters around the UK in the past two weeks.

© Provided by PA Media A sailor on board HMS Severn monitors Vasily Bykov and in the background submarine Stary Oskol (Royal Navy/PA)

The ships have included a surfaced submarine, a destroyer, a corvette and a patrol ship along with their supporting tugs and supply ships travelling in the English Channel, Celtic Sea and the west coast of Scotland.

First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin said: “This is why the Royal Navy is at sea every day, protecting the UK and our interests.

“Even with the pressures of Covid, we remain at short notice to respond to threats both in home waters and around the world.

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Royal Navy and NATO vessels have escorted nine Russian warships in waters close to the UK . "The Royal Navy demonstrated its flexibility in being She was deployed in August last year to shadow the Chinese warship Xian up the English Channel, and to Gibraltar amid tensions between Spain and the

Royal Navy and NATO vessels have escorted nine Russian warships in waters close to the UK . "The Royal Navy demonstrated its flexibility in being able to shadow the Russian Navy units," said Commander Will Paston, Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Westminster.

© Provided by PA Media Vice-Admiral Kulakov as seen from HMS Northumberland (Royal Navy/PA)

“Despite the increase in Russian activity, both on the surface and underwater, we are always ready to respond.”

Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland, based at Devonport, watched the movements of Udaloy-class destroyer the Vice-Admiral Kulakov as it sailed north-west of the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland.

Patrol ship HMS Severn was on duty in the English Channel and Dover Strait, where it shadowed a surfaced Kilo-class submarine, the Stary Oskol, the corvette Boikiy, patrol ship Vasiliy Bykov and support ships.

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UK warships and NATO allies forced back nine Russian Navy warships during "heigthened levels of activity" close to the UK . " Royal Navy warships joined NATO allies from Portugal, Canada, Germany, Norway and Denmark in tracking the Russians through some of the busiest sea lanes in

Seven Russian warships have been shadowed by nine Royal Navy vessels after entering waters around the UK amid the worldwide coronavirus outbreak. The Navy reported "unusually high levels" of activity in English Channel and North Sea, as it was preparing to help the NHS and other government

Severn was also on patrol as the Vice-Admiral Kulakov sailed through the Channel.

Seems we're in the news a lot this week! https://t.co/7fJWik0z4k

— HMS Severn (@hmssevern) December 5, 2020

For some of the operation, the Russian ships sheltered from bad weather within the Baie de Seine, northern France, where Severn was joined by allied French navy ships and aircraft.

Commander Philip Harper, Severn’s commanding officer, said: “In very challenging conditions with rough weather, Severn and several other British and allied ships have spent 20 days ensuring that Russian transiting warships remain under our watchful eyes.”

HMS Lancaster joined Severn tracking Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy in the Channel and using its Wildcat helicopter to gather intelligence.

HMS Tyne, HMS Richmond and HMS Kent jointly escorted the same group of Russian ships as they operated in the Celtic Sea.

The task group were joined by RAF Typhoon and F-35s jets, plus tankers RFA Tideforce and RFA Tiderace.