The British Royal Navy has carried out a 72-hour operation to monitor four Russian vessels sailing from the North Sea toward the English Channel.
The operation, described by British officials as “intensive,” involved HMS Duncan, HMS St Albans and HMS Severn, as well as a Merlin helicopter.
According to British authorities, the Russian warship Admiral Levchenko was escorting the sanctioned cargo vessels General Skobelev and Sparta toward Dover. Russia also deployed the Neustrashimy frigate to protect the cargo.
The head of the Royal Navy, Gwyn Jenkins, said London must remain vigilant regarding Russian activity.
“There is no room for complacency,” he said, describing vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” as an “unacceptable risk” to the security of the United Kingdom.
Russian naval activity in British waters has reportedly increased in recent months. In July alone, the Royal Navy monitored Russian vessels for 21 days, around 25 percent longer than during the same period last year.
More than 500 vessels belonging to what London calls the “Russian shadow fleet” are currently under UK sanctions. The operation comes amid heightened tensions between London and Moscow over Britain’s military support for Ukraine.
