The British Royal Navy has tracked and intercepted the Russian corvette Stoikiy and tanker Elnya as they passed the British coast, the UK Ministry of Defence said.
The department described the operation as part of ongoing engagement with NATO partners and noted a 30% increase in Russian naval activity in the past two years.
The patrol ship HMS Severn tracked the Russian ships for two weeks as they passed through the Strait of Dover and further towards the west coast, the Associated Press and Independent reported, citing the UK Ministry of Defence.
The surveillance was later transferred to a NATO ally off the coast of Brittany, while HMS Severn continued to monitor from a distance. The UK Ministry of Defence did not disclose the time of the interception of „Stoikiy“ and „Elnya“.
The UK has deployed three P-8 Poseidon aircraft to Iceland. They are taking part in an expanded NATO mission to monitor Russian ships and submarines in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.
London has repeatedly registered the appearance of the Russian oceanographic ship „Yantar“ off its coast. Western experts consider it a potential reconnaissance ship due to its underwater devices. The ship was spotted in November 2024 and January 2025.
Last week, Defence Secretary John Healy said that the crews of P-8 Poseidon aircraft encountered laser glare from „Yantar“. The surveillance of the ship is reinforced by patrol aircraft. Healy described the activities of the “Amber“ as a potential threat.
“I have changed the naval rules of engagement to allow us to monitor the activities of the “Amber“ more closely while she is in our waters, and we have military options ready“, Healy threatened.
The Russian embassy in London rejected the accusations, claiming that the UK was “inciting militaristic hysteria“. Diplomats urged London “to avoid destructive steps“ and stressed that Moscow had no interest in undermining British security.