Navy says it is spending 25% more time monitoring Russian vessels around UK waters

The Royal Navy has significantly increased its monitoring of Russian vessels operating near British waters, spending 21 days in July shadowing Moscow's ships. This represents a 25% rise in such operations compared to the same period last year.

Naval assets, including offshore patrol vessels HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn, along with Wildcat helicopters and Merlin aircraft, were actively deployed. Their mission involved shadowing Russian frigates like Neustrashimy and Admiral Grigorovich, which are reportedly tasked with escorting "shadow fleet" tankers. This heightened activity underscores growing concerns about Russian naval presence and intentions in the region.

The Ministry of Defence's annual report revealed that Royal Navy vessels were activated 116 times in the year to March 2026, shadowing 61 Russian warships and 28 merchant vessels. This reflects a 30% increase in Russian naval activity over the preceding two years. Operations have included deterring the spy ship Yantar, observed near undersea cables off Scotland, and boarding shadow fleet vessels, a first for British troops.

Concerns are mounting that Russia is using its shadow fleet to evade international sanctions on oil and fund its war in Ukraine. The UK has imposed sanctions on over 500 vessels, and Russia's oil and gas revenues saw a 24% year-on-year decline in 2025. The diversion of ships to escort shadow fleet vessels means Russia is expending valuable operational capacity. Commander Matt Millyard of HMS Somerset expressed pride in the Navy's role in protecting UK and allied interests, stating, "This deployment demonstrates exactly what the Royal Navy exists to do: protect the UK and our allies from wherever our interests are threatened."

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This deployment demonstrates exactly what the Royal Navy exists to do: protect the UK and our allies from wherever our interests are threatened.