Royal Navy warships on alert as they track 'increased' Russian activity around the UK

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Royal Navy ships based in Portsmouth have been involved in monitoring Russian vessels around the UK in recent weeks.

The ships have kept a close eye on the Russian activity – which includes a surfaced submarine, destroyer, corvette, patrol ship and their supporting tugs and supply ships – as they the vessels moved through the English Channel, Celtic Sea and waters close to the west coast of Scotland.

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Eight Royal Navy ships were used in the three-week operation, including Portsmouth-based HMS Severn, HMS Lancaster, HMS Tyne and HMS Kent.

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.

A sailor on board HMS Northumberland monitors the movement of Vice-Admiral KulakovA sailor on board HMS Northumberland monitors the movement of Vice-Admiral Kulakov
A sailor on board HMS Northumberland monitors the movement of Vice-Admiral Kulakov
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‘Despite the increase in Russian activity, both on the surface and underwater, we are always ready to respond.’

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Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland watched Udaloy-class destroyer, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov, as she sailed north west of the Outer Hebrides, near Scotland.

Severn was on patrol as Kulakov sailed through the Channel but was also on duty to shadow a surfaced Kilo-class submarine, the Stary Oskol, the corvette Boikiy, patrol ship Vasiliy Bykov and support ships through the Channel and Dover Strait.

HMS Lancaster foreground shadows BoikiyHMS Lancaster foreground shadows Boikiy
HMS Lancaster foreground shadows Boikiy

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

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Commander Philip Harper, commanding officer of HMS Severn, 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.’

Lancaster joined Severn to track Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy in the Channel and used her Wildcat helicopter’s sensors to gather intelligence.

Vice-Admiral Kulakov as seen from HMS NorthumberlandVice-Admiral Kulakov as seen from HMS Northumberland
Vice-Admiral Kulakov as seen from HMS Northumberland

HMS Tyne, HMS Richmond and HMS Kent also combined to escort the same Russian ships in the Celtic Sea and near the south west coast of the UK.

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This task group were joined by RAF Typhoon and F-35s jets, plus tankers RFA Tideforce and RFA Tiderace, which kept the allied ships replenished throughout the operations and contributed to monitoring duties while in the Irish Sea.

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