Royal Navy warns of increased Russian activity in UK waters
Surveillance operations rose 25% in July and British patrols shadowed Russian frigates for 21 days.
Britain's Royal Navy has reported a rise in Russian maritime activity near UK territorial waters after spending 21 days in July tracking Russian vessels, officials said.
Surveillance up 25% in July
Surveillance operations monitoring Russian movements increased by 25 percent in July compared with the same period last year, the Royal Navy said, as warships carried out multiple transits across the English Channel and the North Sea.
During July the patrol vessels HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were deployed to shadow the Russian frigates Neustrashimy and Admiral Grigorovich, which have been tasked with escorting tankers linked to what London describes as a so‑called Russian "shadow fleet."
British authorities say Moscow has relied on a "shadow fleet" of mostly older vessels to try to circumvent international sanctions on its oil exports imposed since the start of the war in Ukraine. The recent uptick in crossings and close monitoring reflects concern in the Royal Navy about those movements in and out of UK sea lanes.
Royal Navy patrols and tracking missions aim to maintain surveillance of maritime traffic, deter unsafe or unlawful behaviour and gather intelligence about the routes and escorts used by tankers suspected of carrying sanctioned cargo.
Officials emphasised that the July figure — 21 days of direct tracking of Russian ships and a 25 percent increase in surveillance activity year‑on‑year — demonstrates a sustained rise in activity that London is monitoring closely.
Photo: press material from the event
