TWO Russian warships were intercepted in the English Channel by the Royal Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
HMS Severn – a patrol vessel – stormed over to escort a Russian corvette and a tanker as they sailed west through the Dover Strait into the English Channel.
Vladimir Putin’s small warship RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya escorted over to the coast of Brittany, northwest France, where Nato ally forces took over.
The MOD said HMS Severn “continued to observe from a distance and remained ready to respond to any unexpected activity”.
This is the latest in a string of Russian disruptions in British waters.
Last week, another Russian ship – Yantar – beamed lasers at RAF pilots monitoring its progress off the coast of Scotland.
Defence Secretary John Healey branded the episode “deeply dangerous” and warned Putin: “We see you. We know what you’re doing. We are ready.”
Healey said last week there had been a 30 percent increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters over the past two years.
The latest run-in, which happened at some point over the past fortnight – was not the first time the Stoikiy has been in British waters.
In May, the Royal Navy scrambled two vessels and the 814 Naval Air Squadron – also known as the “flying tigers” – to shadow the Russian warship.
That time, it was sailing west through the English Channel to meet the Sparta IV and General Skobelev.
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