Britain's Royal Navy confirmed on Wednesday that it has been monitoring a Russian warship and a merchant vessel navigating through the North Sea and English Channel.
HMS Somerset, which routinely shadows foreign vessels deemed potential security threats, observed Russia’s Boikiy warship as it escorted the Baltic Leader—a vessel reportedly carrying weapons from Syria—through UK waters.
In a statement, the Royal Navy said HMS Somerset "watched every move" of the warship as it headed south to meet the Baltic Leader and escort it back to Russia. The monitoring operation is part of the Royal Navy's ongoing mission to safeguard national security by keeping a close eye on any activities that could threaten critical infrastructure such as undersea cables or pipelines.
This latest operation follows a series of similar missions. In January, HMS Somerset tracked the suspected Russian spy ship Yantar, and last month, Royal Navy vessels shadowed a group of six Russian naval and merchant ships carrying ammunition used in Syria through the Channel.
Images published by Britain's Times on Tuesday captured sailors manning machine guns on board the Boikiy as it escorted the Baltic Leader. The vessel, which is sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting arms on behalf of the Russian military, underscores growing concerns over Russia's maritime activities in international waters.
The Royal Navy’s persistent monitoring of Russian vessels reflects ongoing efforts to counter potential security threats in the region amid heightened tensions following Russia's involvement in global conflicts. As the situation develops, British defense officials continue to stress the importance of vigilance along key maritime routes.
Read next
21:06
Russia News
Russia has accused Norway of militarizing the Svalbard archipelago and summoned the Norwegian ambassador to Moscow, warning that such actions could escalate tensions in the Arctic region.
15:27
A Finnish court sentenced Russian national Yan Petrovsky to life imprisonment for war crimes in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The ruling found his paramilitary unit responsible for the killing of an injured soldier and other offences. Petrovsky denied the charges and intends to appeal.
14:30
Russia news
Russia has escalated tensions with Britain, accusing it of being a "warmonger" and the primary obstacle to peace efforts in Ukraine. The accusations come as the UK continues to support Ukraine with military aid, drawing sharp criticism from Moscow.
09:19
Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China gathered in Beijing on Friday for discussions on Tehran's nuclear programme, following Iran's rejection of U.S. "orders" to resume talks over the issue.
22:15
Ukraine ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, has stated that Ukraine will never accept a "frozen conflict," reaffirming the country's commitment to restoring its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment