Royal Navy Deploys HMS Severn to Shadow Russian Corvette and Tanker Off UK Coast
30 percent rise in Russian naval activity prompts UK to intensify maritime monitoring in English Channel and beyond
A Royal Navy patrol vessel, HMS Severn, monitored the Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and the tanker Yelnya as they transited the English Channel, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday.
The operation forms part of a broader 30 percent uptick in Russian naval activity around UK waters over the past two years.
Severn shadowed the vessels through the Dover Strait and westward into the Channel before handing over monitoring responsibilities to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally off the coast of Brittany, while remaining in the area at reduced distance.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the action sent a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “We see you.
We know what you’re doing.”
The move came days after the Russian spy ship Yantar was tracked near the Scottish coast, apparently pointing lasers at surveillance aircraft.
In response to the sustained maritime pressure, the Royal Air Force deployed three P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Iceland’s Keflavík Air Base, bolstering NATO’s collective defence posture in the North Atlantic and Arctic.
Commander Grant Dalgleish of HMS Severn described the operation as “a strong demonstration of the Royal Navy’s close working with our NATO partners and the value of our patrol ships in protecting UK waters.” He further emphasised the commitment to safeguarding vital undersea infrastructure and maritime routes.
While the Ministry did not provide precise dates for the interception, it noted that the Russian vessels were engaged in a transit that raised national security concerns.
The RFN Stoikiy is a Steregushchiy-class corvette and the tanker Yelnya is a logistical support vessel.
Their passage through one of Europe’s busiest maritime corridors underscores the enduring strategic challenge posed by increased Russian naval activity.
As the UK government prepares for updated defence spending and capability announcements, the incident reinforces the nation’s focus on maritime security, alliance cooperation and the protection of critical sea-lines of communication.
The Royal Navy will continue to monitor such activity around the United Kingdom and in coordination with NATO allies in the months ahead.
The operation forms part of a broader 30 percent uptick in Russian naval activity around UK waters over the past two years.
Severn shadowed the vessels through the Dover Strait and westward into the Channel before handing over monitoring responsibilities to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally off the coast of Brittany, while remaining in the area at reduced distance.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the action sent a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “We see you.
We know what you’re doing.”
The move came days after the Russian spy ship Yantar was tracked near the Scottish coast, apparently pointing lasers at surveillance aircraft.
In response to the sustained maritime pressure, the Royal Air Force deployed three P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Iceland’s Keflavík Air Base, bolstering NATO’s collective defence posture in the North Atlantic and Arctic.
Commander Grant Dalgleish of HMS Severn described the operation as “a strong demonstration of the Royal Navy’s close working with our NATO partners and the value of our patrol ships in protecting UK waters.” He further emphasised the commitment to safeguarding vital undersea infrastructure and maritime routes.
While the Ministry did not provide precise dates for the interception, it noted that the Russian vessels were engaged in a transit that raised national security concerns.
The RFN Stoikiy is a Steregushchiy-class corvette and the tanker Yelnya is a logistical support vessel.
Their passage through one of Europe’s busiest maritime corridors underscores the enduring strategic challenge posed by increased Russian naval activity.
As the UK government prepares for updated defence spending and capability announcements, the incident reinforces the nation’s focus on maritime security, alliance cooperation and the protection of critical sea-lines of communication.
The Royal Navy will continue to monitor such activity around the United Kingdom and in coordination with NATO allies in the months ahead.
