Two Russian naval vessels were intercepted in the English Channel by a UK patrol ship, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). HMS Severn intercepted the Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and the tanker Yelnya as they navigated through the Dover Strait into the English Channel within the last two weeks. Subsequently, monitoring responsibilities were transferred to an undisclosed NATO partner off the coast of Brittany.
The MoD reported a 30% increase in Russian naval activities near UK waters over the past two years. Apart from the vessels operating close to the UK coastline, Britain has dispatched three Poseidon surveillance aircraft to Iceland as part of a NATO initiative to oversee Russian naval presence in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
This incident follows the recent sighting of the Russian spy ship Yantar off the coast of Scotland, where it directed lasers at RAF pilots monitoring its movements. Defence Secretary John Healey characterized the actions of Yantar as “highly perilous” and issued a caution to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “We are aware of your activities, and if the Yantar heads south this week, we are prepared.”
In response, the Russian Embassy in London accused the British government of fueling militaristic tensions, which it claims may lead to hazardous circumstances. The embassy defended Yantar as an “oceanographic research vessel” operating in international waters, refuting any claims of jeopardizing Britain’s security.
Healey’s statements coincide with his call for increased defence expenditure ahead of the government’s upcoming budget announcement on November 26. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged a significant rise in defence spending to counter threats from Russia, China, and Iran. However, the government faces challenging decisions, including potential tax hikes and budget cuts, to address a substantial budget deficit.