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Royal Navy warships, supported by a helicopter, conducted a demanding three-day operation in the North Sea and English Channel, closely tracking Russian Navy vessels as well as ships carrying sanctioned cargo. The surveillance mission involved HMS Duncan, HMS St Albans, and HMS Severn using radar systems to follow four ships, while a Merlin helicopter provided aerial reconnaissance.
According to General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, this operation has had a significant impact on Russian efforts. He noted, “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.” This activity aligns with increased Royal Navy efforts, as naval monitoring of Russian movements has risen by 25% this year compared to 2025.
During the August mission, the Royal Navy’s vessels, including a Type 45 destroyer and a Type 23 frigate, shadowed the Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko. The destroyer was escorting the sanctioned cargo ships General Skobelev and Sparta as they traveled south through the North Sea toward the English Channel. The Royal Navy described how Russia had to commit “costly military resources,” such as the frigate Neustrashimy, in response. Subsequently, a NATO ally took responsibility for monitoring the vessels off the coast of France, although the specific nation was not identified.
This recent activity follows an earlier Royal Navy operation in June, when Royal Marine Commandos, alongside National Crime Agency officers and supported by the RAF, boarded the Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel. This marked a notable first for the UK armed forces. During this six-hour operation, an Indian national, aged 38, was arrested by NCA officers on suspicion of sanctions offences under the Russia Regulations and was taken into custody
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