A ROYAL Air Force spy plane roared over a Russian warship in a dramatic Channel showdown – as Europe’s top generals swoop into London to discuss putting troops in Ukraine.
The Poseidon P-8A patrol plane buzzed the destroyer Severomorsk as it led a Russian convoy retreating past the cliffs of Dover.
A Poseidon P-8A patrol plane buzzed over destroyer Severomorskhandout
handoutThe Russian ship was on a retreat back from Syria to the Baltics[/caption]
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.”
The Russian ships were beating a humiliating retreat from Syria back to Baltic, after Russia was forced to abandon its Tartus naval base in the when their puppet dictator Bashar al Assad was toppled by rebels last year.
The choppers swooped and circled low over a the four ship convoy to glean Top Secret intelligence on their crew and deadly cargoes.
The Navy said the mission was “the third of its kind in six weeks as Russia increases its activity in UK waters”.
The Russian destroyer Severomorsk and the amphibious landing ship Alexander Shabalin were escorting two Kremlin cargo ships, the MV Sparta IV and MV Siyanie Severa, laden with weapons and ammunition from Tartus.
The Navy added: “As the Russian ships sailed east through the Channel and the North Sea towards the Baltic Sea, the Royal Navy ships deployed powerful sensors and launched the Merlin and Wildcat helicopters to report on every move.”
The Royal Navy vessels, including mine hunter HMS Cattistock and tanker RFA Tidesurge, stalked the Russian vessels from Land’s End through the Dover Strait to deter any acts of sabotage.
The Navy added: “In the space of six weeks, the Royal Navy has shadowed three separate task groups returning from Syria.”
This was thought to be the final convoy from Tartus marking a major blow to Russia’s naval presence in the Med.
Armed Forced Minister Pollard thanked all the crews involved and added: “National security is a foundation of the government’s plan for change and ensuring freedom of navigation contributes to our economy.”
It comes as the chiefs of Europe’s armed forces are due to meet at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters tomorrow to discuss “operational details” on policing a peace plan in Ukraine.
Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin rejected US calls for ceasefire but agreed to hold ice hockey games with America after a marathon call with Donald Trump yesterday.
Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer said he is willing to put British boots on the ground to police any ceasefire.
But Putin has flatly rejected calls to have Nato troops in Ukraine.
handoutThis was the third mission of its kind in six weeks[/caption]
NorthpixAn RAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft was scrambled to escort the Russian ship[/caption]
Commander Joel Roberts, the captain of HMS Somerset, hailed his crew’s professionalism on a complex mission with multiple ships and aircraft – including fro Nato allies, including Belgium
He said: “There is strength in a coordinated Nato response, and our unity and ability to deliver integration of air and maritime operations remain some of our greatest assets.”
The Severomorsk destroyer can carry more than 100 missiles and torpedoes and two Ka-27 helicopters.
It had sailed west through the Channel last week to meet the retreating Russian vessels and lead them back through the Dover Strait.
The Ropucha-class landing ship Alexander Shabalin can carry up to 10-main battle tanks and 340 troops. It’s bow opens up like a ferry’s to spew tanks or armoured vehicles in an assault.
The Belgian patrol ship BNS Castor took over the escort duty as the Russian ships left UK waters.
It comes weeks after Defence Secretary John Healey vowed to take “robust action” against suspected Russian subsea sabotage.
He ordered an Astute class nuclear submarine to surface yards away from the Russian spy ship Yantar last year after it was suspected of interfering with subsea cables in the Irish Sea.
In a stark message to President Putin, Healey said: “We see you.
“We know what you are doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.”
HMS Somerset P8 aircraft watching the Severomorsk destroyerhandout
handoutThe view from Cattistock[/caption]
© Jerome Starkey 2025Sun journalist Jerome Starkey watched on as the Navy intercepted a Russian warship last month[/caption]
Last month The Sun joined the frigate HMS Iron Duke on a similar intercept mission.
The Type 23 frigate closed to within 1,000 yards of the rusting warship Aleksandkr Otrakovskiy.
It was the first time journalists have joined a Royal Navy intercept mission in living memory.
Cockpit displays in the Wildcat chopper, which launched from Iron Duke, showed Russian sailors with Kalashnikov rifles slung across their chests and comrades manning heavy machine guns mounted on the warship’s bows.
It is the closest Britain’s armed forces have come to Russia’s military since Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine three years ago.
Earlier this month HMS Somerset spent three days escorting the Russian corvette Boikiy as it led a cargo vessel back from the Med.
The Navy said: “The UK is heavily dependent on imports and exports by sea, which is why securing the UK’s waters and areas of interest is essential to supporting the economy and growth.”
Why are there fears over subsea sabotage?
SUSPICIONS have been raised over potential deep sea disruption from Putin‘s Russia after a string of key underwater cables have been sliced in recent months.
In January, Russia was accused of sabotage in the Baltic Sea after a Kremlin ship allegedly cut a key Finish power cable with its anchor after dragging it on the seabed for dozens of miles.
The Estlink 2 power cable in the Gulf of Finland was ruptured along with four other communication lines in the suspected deliberate act of vandalism.
Officials believe the ship was a 751ft Eagle S part of Russia’s “shadow” or “dark” fleet operated by Putin to evade sanctions.
A Chinese vessel was also seen in the area at the time of the incident.
Since Vlad’s invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago, Russia have been using hybrid warfare tactics to get to their enemies.
This has typically targeted nations who have strongly backed Ukraine such as Germany by targeting critical infrastructure, such as undersea cables.
The recent issues have prompted Nato to bolster up their surveillance systems across Europe.
A giant 36ft stealth submarine drone dubbed the “Blue Whale” has been deployed in the Baltic Sea by Germany.
The huge drone is set to patrol across European waters on behalf of Nato after being released by the Germany navy.
The autonomous Blue Whale’s goal is to carry out deep sea surveillance in the Baltic Sea.
Its capabilities also include the ability to detect and pursue suspicious vessels as well as mines linked to foreign interference.
German navy commander Jan Christian Kaack says it will confront “high-performance weapons from potential foes, including some which are extremely difficult to defend against”.