The Royal Navy has concluded a three-day surveillance operation monitoring two Russian Navy warships and two sanctioned cargo ships as they transited through the North Sea and the English Channel.
In a 29 August release, the Royal Navy that HMS Duncan, HMS St Albans, and HMS Severn, supported by a Merlin helicopter deployed from St Albans, were tasked with tracking Russia’s Udaloy-class destroyer Admiral Levchenko, and sanctioned cargo vessels General Skobelev and Sparta.
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The vessels were escorted south through UK-controlled waters, with British ships employing onboard sensors and radars to monitor their movements.
According to the Royal Navy, Russia responded by deploying the frigate Neustrashimy as part of its security for the convoy.
At the same time, HMS Mersey was assigned to shadow Russian replenishment vessel Akademik Pashin, mirroring intensified activity by the Royal Navy in response to what officials describe as “Putin’s shadow fleet” operating near UK and European waters.
In the first eight months of this year, Royal Navy monitoring operations related to Russian activity in UK waters increased by 25% compared with the same period last year.
This surge follows the June interception of the sanctioned oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel.
First Sea Lord and Naval Staff chief, general Sir Gwyn Jenkins said: “The interception of the Smyrtos was a clear demonstration that the UK and Royal Navy will act against those who seek to evade sanctions to fund Russia’s egregious war on Ukraine. Since that successful operation, we have seen Russian shadow fleet vessels increasingly forced to change their routes, imposing significant cost and delays to their journeys.”
After surveillance in British waters, the Royal Navy handed monitoring duties to a NATO ally off the French coast near Ushant.
This was the third time in a month that HMS Severn had been dispatched to monitor Russian naval movements, having also shadowed the frigate Neustrashimy and hydrographic vessel Romuald Muklevich. HMS Tyne also participated in previous responses.
The UK, in cooperation with international partners, continues efforts to disrupt revenues supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine and to limit Moscow’s capacity to jeopardise European and global security.
According to the Royal Navy, more than 500 vessels have now been sanctioned by the UK in an effort to curb Russian oil and gas revenues, which it says have dropped by 24% year-on-year in 2025.
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said: “Shadow fleet vessels continue to pose an unacceptable risk to maritime security and the environment, wherever they sail. That is why we remain vigilant and will continue to work alongside allies to uphold and enforce international law.”