Britain said on Saturday that it had tracked in recent days six Russian landing ships and merchant vessels in the English Channel. The group of six Russian vessels departed the Mediterranean recently, sailing through the busy international shipping lane in the English Channel as they sailed towards a Russian Baltic port.
“Royal Navy vessels and Royal Air Force aircraft have been shadowing a Russian Navy task group as they sailed close to the UK. They took over monitoring duties from NATO allies as the ships travelled through the English Channel,” the UK defence ministry said during the weekend.
Royal Navy warships and aircraft reported on every move of the landing ships and merchant vessels.
The Royal Navy maintained constant watch on the Russian task group, utilising a range of sensors and cutting-edge technology to ensure accurate reporting of the transit.
A UK ship escorted the task group, just west of Brest on the French coast.
“Whilst this particular Russian task group was not assessed to pose a specific threat to the UK, this closely coordinated operation demonstrates our steadfast determination to protect our nation’s territorial seas and Critical National Infrastructure; on which our economic prosperity depends,” said commander David Armstrong, HMS Iron Duke’s commanding officer.
“It is not enough to hope passing non-allied warships will not threaten our maritime security-we will be there to make sure they can’t.”
This latest operation comes after a Russian ‘spy ship’ spotted in the English Channel by a Royal Navy warship last month.
The Russian Embassy in London said that Russia posed no threat to underwater infrastructure in Britain and its NATO allies.
The embassy characterised the claims by the UK ministry of defence “completely groundless.” “Russia has never posed such threats,” it said.
The embassy added that Western nations, particularly the UK, are engaging in “destabilizing and provocative actions” on the international high seas, including the Black and Baltic seas.
“Under the fabricated pretext of a “Russian threat”, Britain and other NATO countries are increasing their naval and air force presence in these and adjacent areas. Meanwhile the very same countries are elaborating dubious justifications for ramping up unilateral restrictions against commercial shipping in the region, though the compliance of such measures with international maritime law appears questionable even to their authors,” the Russian embassy noted in its written statement last month.
