THE Royal Navy scrambled sea and air power to escort three Russian ships – including a beach invader and spy vessel – through the English Channel.
One of the Russian ships under watch was previously revealed to be plotting sabotage missions against UK infrastructure.
SWNSHMS Cattistock shadowed Admiral Vladimirsky in the channel[/caption]
SWNSA Wildcat helicopter kept close watch from the skies over Admiral Vladimirskiy[/caption]
PARussian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky was also shadowed on Tuesday[/caption]
HMS Cattistock and a Wildcat helicopter were deployed to “keep a constant watch” over the Russian Admiral Vladimirskiy ship as it sailed the Channel and Dover Strait.
Russia claims Admiral Vladimirskiy is a scientific research ship, but in 2023 it was unveiled as a spy ship – suspected of planning to cut UK power supply and internet cables.
This mission was quickly followed by another, as two more Navy ships and a helicopter rushed to escort two further Russian boats.
The second wave of British responders were tanker RFA Tidesurge and Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset, alongside her Merlin helicopter.
One of their targets was the Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky, which can be used for beach invasions.
The second two Russian ships were returning from the Mediterranean.
Tuesday’s operation followed a similar mission last week, when Royal Navy warships and helicopters tracked a Russian task group returning from Syria.
HMS Somerset has been especially busy, deploying three times in the past month alone to escort Russian ships returning from the Med.
HMS Cattistock’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, said: “Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months.”
He said the string of successful missions demonstrated “the Royal Navy’s operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea”.
The Lieutenant Commander added: “I am extremely proud of my ship’s company’s professionalism and determination to get the job done as we continue to work closely with other Royal Navy ships and aircraft, the RAF P8 force and fellow NATO navies.”
Commanding Officer, Commander Joel Roberts, said: “Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the United Kingdom’s territorial and sensitive waters.
“In maintaining units at very high readiness to respond, the Royal Navy offers presence, deterrence, persistence, flexibility and can deliver or facilitate a range of military and diplomatic options to support our national objectives.”
Just last week, a Royal Air Force spy plane roared over a Russian warship in a dramatic Channel showdown.
SWNSThe Minehunter HMS Cattistock shadowing Admiral Vladimirsky through the English Channel[/caption]
The Poseidon P-8A patrol plane buzzed the destroyer Severomorsk as it led a Russian convoy retreating past the cliffs of Dover.
The major show of force involved Merlin and Wildcat helicopters and three Royal Navy warships, including HMS Somerset.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said: “Russia should be in no doubt that the UK will defend our waters.”
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