Why This Russian Ship Was Closely Tracked?
The Royal Navy closely tracked a Russian warship as it escorted a sanctioned merchant vessel through UK waters, keeping it under continuous surveillance for three days.
HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, was deployed to shadow the Russian corvette Boikiy, using advanced radar and sensors to monitor every move.
A Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron was launched to gather intelligence from above, ensuring no details were missed.
Reports indicate Russian crew members aboard Boikiy were seen burning papers and manning machine guns while passing through UK waters.
The merchant vessel Baltic Leader, under Boikiy’s escort, had been sanctioned by the UK and US for its links to Russian financial institutions tied to military operations.
The Royal Navy worked alongside NATO forces and UK patrol aircraft to maintain a constant watch, ensuring the task group’s activities were closely monitored.
With Russian naval activity increasing in UK waters, tensions remain high—this operation is unlikely to be the last.
With Russian naval activity increasing in UK waters, tensions remain high—this operation is unlikely to be the last.