The Navy tracked the Admiral Grigorovich off the UK coast for a month (Image: MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire)
The Royal Navy spent every day last month monitoring one of Vladimir Putin’s warships as it sailed through UK waters. Four British ships and helicopters kept watch of the Admiral Grigorovich which escorted a number of Russian-flagged vessels passing through the English Channel.
The frigate accompanied one submarine and around six merchant and support vessels during April, the Navy said. The vessels were heading to and from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic. At least three were under economic sanction, reports say.
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HMS Mersey monitors the Admiral Grigorovich (background) (Image: MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire)
It comes after British forces in late March were given the green light to intercept and detain sanctioned vessels, suspected of being in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, travelling through UK waters.
Despite Sir Keir Starmer’s boarding threat, no vessels have been interdicted and continue to make the journey.
Elisabeth Braw, a security expert with the Atlantic Council thinktank, said the monitoring of the Admiral Grigorovich is “completely disproportionate”.
“Navies normally only escort vessels when there is a clear military threat, such as from the Houthis in the Red Sea,” she told The Guardian.
The expert suggested the UK has been deterred from carrying out any intercepts of alleged shadow fleet tankers due to the presence of Russian warships.
She said: “The Russian government has shown it is willing to use its naval power to protect vessels that break maritime rules. It makes it much more difficult for coastal states to intervene. You have to be willing to risk a confrontation with the escort.”
Patrol ships HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were all involved in the monitoring of the Admiral Grigorovich.
They were supported by tanker RFA Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters.
The Admiral Grigorovich sailed between the Atlantic and North Sea and also “paused to take on fuel and supplies near key national infrastructure, including the Galloper wind farm off the Suffolk coast”, the Navy said.
Around 250 UK military personnel helped keep watch of the ship, including specialists at the Navy’s operational headquarters at Northwood.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said the “round-the-clock” operation sent a “clear message” to the Kremlin.
“UK waters are protected, our sailors and aircrew are alert, and we will always defend our nation and its vital infrastructure,” he said.
The head of the Navy last week said Russian incursions into British waters have risen by nearly a third in the last two years.
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins warned Britain is facing an “open sea border” with Russia in the North Atlantic.
It came weeks after it was revealed British forces — alongside allies — foiled a Russian submarine operation to survey key undersea infrastructure close to the UK.
