The Russian ships passed through NATO waters without incident before sailing along international maritime routes.
In the span of less than two weeks, the Royal Navy had to put to sea twice to deal with Russian ships sailing too close for comfort.
British warships intercepted a Russian spy ship, a frigate, and a tanker sailing close to NATO waters. This is yet another incident between NATO and Russia.
Royal Navy Interceptions
A few days ago, the Royal Navy scrambled HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, to intercept the Russian spy ship Yantar in the North Sea. Officially a research ship, Yantar is a Russian spy ship equipped with electromagnetic and signals intelligence equipment.
The British warships shadowed the Russian vessel for eight days as it sailed northwards towards the Faroe Islands.
In addition, NATO deployed P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft to help monitor the movements of the Yantar. The Russian spy ship used lasers against the P-8 aircraft, as well as GPS jamming against the HMS Somerset and passing civilian vessels.
This is not the first time the Russian spy ship has entered the waters of the United Kingdom.
“The Royal Navy always has a ship held at notice to conduct these missions, and HMS Somerset has been called upon to shadow the Yantar on two occasions this year as it entered UK waters. In the most recent operation, HMS Somerset, working alongside RAF maritime patrol aircraft, maintained 24-hour surveillance of the Yantar to provide evidence of their activities,” Commander Matt Millyard, the commanding officer of HMS Somerset, said about the interceptions.
Then, HMS Severn, a patrol ship, intercepted the RFN Stoikiy, a Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette, and the tanker Yelnya. Additional NATO warships joined the British patrol ship and monitored the Russian vessels as they sailed through the Dover Strait and the English Channel. Off the French coast of Brittany, the Royal Navy ship handed off its shadowing duties to other NATO warships.
“This tasking shows the value of our patrol ships and reinforces the Royal Navy’s close liaison with our NATO allies in safeguarding the British people and protecting the internationally recognised waterways,” Commander Grant Dalgleish, the commanding officer of HMS Severn, said in a service press release.
The Russian ships passed through NATO waters without incident and sailed westward along international maritime routes.
Tensions with Russia in Europe
The incident comes at a point in time when tensions between NATO and Russia are sky-high. Although negotiations for a peaceful end to the conflict in Ukraine are underway, Russia continues to maintain an aggressive posture against NATO and the European Union.
Starting in earnest in September, Russian unmanned aerial systems, ships, and even saboteurs have violated NATO airspace and territory. Everything began when Russian drones entered Polish airspace, forcing NATO to scramble fighter jets, including F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft. Then, Russian unmanned aerial systems and fighter jets violated NATO airspace in Romania, Estonia, Germany, Norway, and Denmark. French special operations forces even boarded a Russian-affiliated ship off the French coast. Most recently, Russian-affiliated saboteurs destroyed a railway line in Poland.
Senior NATO officials are warning that Russia’s truculence could transit to open hostilities in the next few years.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Kevin Shipp / Shutterstock.com
