British ships intercepted Russian vessels off the coast of the United Kingdom
The frigate HMS St Albans and the patrol ship HMS Mersey intercepted Russian vessels in the English Channel, demonstrating Britain's readiness to defend its waters.
Photo: Tim Green, CC BY 2.0
United Kingdom. On April 23, the Royal Navy frigate HMS St Albans was scrambled to escort the Russian frigate Admiral Golovko, which was sailing east through the English Channel.
The Plymouth-based ship monitored the vessel's movements and launched a Merlin helicopter to gather intelligence from the air, before handing over escort duties to NATO allies, according to the Royal Navy.
At the same time, the Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey tracked the Russian corvette Soobrazitelny as it sailed westward.
The operation was supported by the tanker RFA Tidesurge, providing logistical support.
The passage of the Russian tanker Kola was also monitored heading in the same direction. Monitoring was carried out in coordination with the Joint Maritime Security Centre.
Commander of HMS St Albans, Commander Matt Teare, emphasized that this was the ship’s second similar mission this month. He noted that regular interceptions of Russian vessels highlight the need for close cooperation with allies and the fleet’s readiness to act at any moment.