Overview
- Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne and a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracked Russian movements near UK waters across two activations in recent days.
- The first mission followed Ropucha-class landing ship RFS Aleksandr Otrakovsky with sanctioned cargo vessel Sparta IV from the Atlantic through the English Channel into the North Sea.
- HMS Cutlass initially intercepted the group at the Strait of Gibraltar before an allied warship maintained contact northwards and HMS Tyne took over in the Channel approaches.
- Less than 48 hours later, HMS Tyne and a Wildcat monitored RFS Aleksandr Shabalin and cargo ship MV Sabetta as they sailed west through the Channel.
- Defence Secretary John Healey said the operation demonstrates UK resolve and serves as a warning to President Putin, with Royal Navy officers describing the tasks as routine security work that also gathers intelligence.