Panic in English Channel as four Russian vessels shadowed by Royal Navy warships

Royal Navy warships have shadowed four Russian Navy vessels through the English Channel and North Sea. It comes after Vladimir Putin sent a signal to the UK on the day he warned the West against allowing Ukraine to target his country with long-range missiles.

Additionally, two RAF Typhoons were yesterday scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, to intercept two Russian Bear-F aircraft operating near the UK, in a clear indication of spiking tensions as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer flew to Washington for talks with US President Joe Biden.

In a six-day operation coordinated with NATO allies, the Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke shadowed the Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its supporting tug Evgeny Churov through the Dover Strait and into the Atlantic.

The operation got underway at the start of September when Canadian warship HMCS Shawinigan escorted the diesel-powered submarine and her support vessel as they sailed from the Baltic and headed across the North Sea.

The Canadian patrol ship then handed over monitoring duties to the Royal Navy as the Russian vessels approached the Dover Strait.

From there, HMS Iron Duke ensured constant watch on the two vessels, using her many sensors including her Wildcat helicopter, from 815 Naval Air Squadron, in the air. The submarine stayed on the surface throughout the operation.

After the Russian vessels had passed UK waters, HMS Iron Duke handed over shadowing duties to the Marine Nationale off the northwest coast of France, where the frigate FS Auvergne took over.

The ship then returned to the North Sea for a similar operation – this time with Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoiky and tanker MT Yaz as it approached Dover, taking over shadowing duties from the Belgian Navy, whose patrol vessel BNS Castor had kept watch up to that point.

HMS Iron Duke subsequently handed over monitoring duties to patrol ship HMS Tyne off north western France.

Throughout both journeys past the UK – which is permitted under international law in accordance with the right of innocent passage – the Russian warships and their support vessels were closely monitored by UK forces to make sure they acted in a safe and non-threatening manner.

Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke Commander David Armstrong explained: "These were the fourth and fifth such operations for HMS Iron Duke since we emerged from a period of intense training in July, and I am extremely proud of the professionalism and selfless dedication that my ship’s company consistently display as they perform their duty.

"Maritime security operations of this nature are a fundamental capability of the Royal Navy, with the protection of our sovereign waters and critical national infrastructure a key focus."

In a separate operation, the RAF jets were launched under NATO command and worked closely with the UK’s allies partners to monitor the aircraft as they passed through international airspace.

Typhoons escorted the aircraft out of the UK’s Flight Information Region and at no time did the Russian aircraft enter UK sovereign airspace.

Typhoons are part of the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert, which sees aircraft in Scotland and England at high-readiness 24/7, 365 days a year ready to defend and protect UK airspace.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: "This government is committed to making the UK secure at home and strong abroad. Efforts by the Royal Navy and RAF over the last two weeks demonstrate their selfless commitment to protecting our national security.

"I’d like to thank those members of our armed forces who took part in this operation, their professionalism and skill was on full display while working seamlessly with our NATO allies to uphold international standards."