Royal Navy warship HMS Tyne based in Portsmouth tracks Russian vessels in UK waters for fourth time since October started

Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne shadowed two VMF warships and an intelligence-gathering vessel as they carried out replenishment operations with their supporting tanker.

The Russian navy ships sailed into the Moray Firth to shelter from rough weather this week as they travelled through the North Sea close to UK territorial waters.

Udaloy-class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov was one of the ships included in the group along with Vishnya-class intelligence-gathering ship Viktor Leonov, Steregushchy-class frigate Steregushchy and the tanker Akademik Pashin.

HMS Tyne, a patrol vessel, observed the ships as they refuelled ahead of continuing with their journey.

The ship’s executive officer Lieutenant Nick Ward said: ‘HMS Tyne routinely shadows Russian warships transiting in and around the UK’s waters.

SEE ALSO: Royal Navy vessels HMS Mersey, HMS Tyne and HMS Westminster escort fleet of Russian warships near UK waters

‘This operation, like many others, again demonstrates that the Royal Navy stands ready to protect the UK’s sovereignty every day of the year, in any weather.’

It is the fourth time since October 12, just over a month ago, that HMS Tyne has monitored Russian activity in UK waters.

First the patrol ship shadowed a group of Russian warships including the corvette Vasily Bykov, as well as a Kilo-class submarine and an accompanying support vessel.

Portuguese frigate NRP Corte Real from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 joined the operation, which ensured constant surveillance of the Russian units as they moved through UK waters.

HMS Tyne then headed south to observe another Russian unit – the Smolny, a cadet training ship, as it transited through UK territory.

Earlier this month, the ship also monitored the actions of intelligence-gathering vessel Viktor Leonov and her supporting tanker Sergey Osipov as they sail around the Moray Firth, in the North Sea.

The Russian vessels appear to have been sheltering from Storm Aiden and carrying out replenishment operations, before the Osipov left UK territory.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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