NewKerala.com

Royal Navy Intercepts Russian Warship Amid Rising UK-Russia Tensions

The Royal Navy has been actively monitoring Russian naval movements near British waters. HMS Severn recently shadowed a Russian corvette and tanker through key shipping channels. This comes amid allegations that another Russian ship targeted RAF pilots with lasers. Meanwhile, Russia denies any wrongdoing and accuses Britain of escalating tensions unnecessarily.

Key Points: Royal Navy Shadows Russian Warship Tanker Off UK Coast

  • HMS Severn shadowed RFN Stoikiy corvette through Dover Strait and English Channel
  • Monitoring later transferred to NATO ally while maintaining observation distance
  • Incident follows Russian ship Yantar allegedly pointing lasers at RAF pilots
  • Russian Embassy denies allegations, calls vessel oceanographic research ship
2 min read

British Defence Ministry claims interception of Russian warship, tanker off UK coast

British Defence Ministry confirms Royal Navy intercepted Russian corvette and tanker in English Channel, amid escalating tensions and laser incident allegations.

"whipping up militaristic hysteria - Russian Embassy in London"

London, Nov 24

The Royal Navy has intercepted a Russian warship and a tanker off the British coast in a shadowing operation in the past fortnight, local media quoted Britain's defence ministry as saying.

HMS Severn, a Royal Navy patrol vessel, shadowed the RFN Stoikiy corvette and a tanker vessel, which sailed through the Dover Strait and westward through the English Channel, the ministry said, without specifying the time of interception.

HMS Severn later handed over monitoring duties to "a NATO ally," said the ministry, but continued to observe from a distance, Xinhua news agency reported.

It came after British Defence Secretary John Healey said on Wednesday that a Russian ship, Yantar, which was sailing on the edge of British waters, pointed lasers at the Royal Air Force pilots monitoring its movement.

While Britain labelled Yantar as a "Russian spy ship," the Russian embassy in Britain stated that it was merely an "oceanographic research vessel" operating in international waters, adding that Russia's actions did not impact Britain's interests and were not intended to undermine the country's security.

The Russian Embassy in London dismissed the allegations, accusing the UK of "whipping up militaristic hysteria," further adding that Russia has no intention of compromising British security and insisted that its vessels were operating in line with international law.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised a hike in military expenditure amid growing threats from Russia, China and Iran, but the Treasury faces difficult choices as it works to plug a multi-billion-pound deficit.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting how Russia claims it's just research while UK calls it spying. Reminds me of similar situations we've seen in Indian Ocean region. Both sides will always have their own narratives. 🤔
A
Aman W
While I understand UK's security concerns, I hope this doesn't escalate tensions further. India has good relations with both countries and we need stability in international waters for our trade routes. 🙏
S
Sarah B
The laser pointing incident is concerning. Such actions can be dangerous for pilots. This is exactly why international maritime laws need to be strictly enforced everywhere.
V
Vikram M
Russia has been India's reliable defense partner for decades. While we should maintain our strategic autonomy, we must be careful not to alienate old friends because of Western narratives. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
M
Michael C
Honestly, both countries are playing power games. The UK wants to show it's still relevant post-Brexit, and Russia wants to test NATO's resolve. India should focus on its own interests in this complex situation.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50