The Royal Navy has intercepted two Russian vessels that were tracked through the Dover Strait in the latest sign of heightened military activity around the British coast.
HMS Severn, a River-class patrol ship, shadowed the Russian corvette Stoikiy and the tanker Yelnya as they sailed west through the narrow strait earlier this month. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Severn maintained visual watch before handing over to a NATO partner off the coast of Brittany.
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Defence Secretary John Healey described the wider pattern of recent encounters as “deeply dangerous”, saying the government had recorded what he called a “marked rise” in Russian naval movements near the UK. “We see you. We know what you are doing. We are ready,” he said, in one of the starkest warnings issued by a British defence secretary in recent years.
The interception follows the appearance of the Russian vessel Yantar off Scotland’s coast, where its reported use of lasers against RAF crews prompted particular concern among defence officials. Although the ministry has not disclosed further details, senior figures say these incidents form part of a broader shift in how Russia tests the reactions of NATO states.
The Stoikiy is no stranger to British waters. In May, it was monitored by two Royal Navy ships and an airborne squadron as it passed through the Channel while meeting other Russian vessels returning from the Mediterranean.
Officials say the increase in sightings reflects “Russian aggression across the board”, affecting not only Ukraine but wider European security. As part of the UK’s response, the Royal Navy has adjusted its rules of engagement to allow closer and more sustained monitoring of foreign vessels operating near the country’s critical undersea infrastructure. Details of these changes have not been made public, although ministers have emphasised that the move is defensive.
HMS Severn, built in 2002 and one of three River-class offshore patrol vessels, routinely escorts foreign warships and carries out border and fishing protection duties. The navy states that these vessels are capable of responding rapidly when unidentified or unannounced ships enter waters of strategic interest.
Further information on the Royal Navy’s patrol fleet can be found on its official vessel information page:
Royal Navy patrol ships overview.
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