The British Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday (November 23) that a British patrol ship tracked a Russian escort ship and an oil tanker in the English Channel before carrying out an interception. The ministry also pointed out that Russian military activities in the waters around the UK have increased by 30% in the past two years.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, in the past two weeks, the Navy patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted the Russian next-generation stealth escort ship RFN Stoikiy and the oil tanker Yelnya crossing the English Channel. Eventually, HMS Severn handed over the monitoring mission to NATO allied vessels near the Brittany coast.
In addition to ships stationed near the British coast, the UK has deployed three Poseidon reconnaissance planes to Iceland, as part of NATO’s mission to monitor Russian ships and submarines in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Just a few days ago, British Defence Minister John Healey revealed to the media that the Russian spy ship Yantar had targeted British reconnaissance aircraft monitoring its activities in the waters near Scotland with a laser. The UK condemned the actions of Yantar as “reckless and dangerous” and emphasized that there will be a response to any territorial violations.
Healey stated last Wednesday (November 19): “The message I have for Russia and Putin is: We are watching you, we know what you are up to.”
In response to Healey’s remarks, the Russian Ambassador to London accused the British government of “inciting militaristic fervor” and stated that Moscow has no intention of jeopardizing British security.
Healey issued this warning a week before the British government announced a new budget, citing the need to increase defence spending. Despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment to significantly increase military spending to counter threats from Russia, China, and Iran, the UK faces difficult choices – as the government considers raising taxes and cutting spending to address a multi-billion pound budget deficit.
(This article is based on a report by Reuters)