'Very sneaky' As world battles COVID-19, Russia sends seven warship around UK

Russia has sparked a Royal Navy alert during the coronavirus pandemic after seven Russian warships were spotted in the Channel and North Sea.

The Royal Navy said British wartime ships completed a “large scale operation” to monitor seven Russian ships following “unusually high levels of activity” off its coastline. The news comes as Britain’s Navy prepares to help our NHS Heroes deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Royal Navy said: “As the Royal Navy prepares to help the NHS and other Government departments deal with the response to the coronavirus outbreak, nine British ships have been shadowing seven Russian vessels in waters around the UK.

“The Navy has completed a concentrated operation to shadow the Russian warships after unusually high levels of activity in the English Channel and North Sea.

“Type 23 frigates HMS Kent, HMS Sutherland, HMS Argyll and HMS Richmond joined Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey along with RFA Tideforce, RFA Tidespring and HMS Echo for the large-scale operation with support from Nato allies.”

Lieutenant Nick Ward, HMS Tyne’s Executive Officer, said it was “essential” for the Navy to “continue to deliver the tasks we have always performed to help keep Britain safe” amid the coronavirus crisis.

He said: “As the Armed Forces are helping the NHS save lives in the UK, it’s essential the Navy continues to deliver the tasks we have always performed to help keep Britain safe.

“This is very much part of routine business for HMS Tyne and represents one of the many roles our patrol vessels perform in support of the Royal Navy’s commitments.

“This is our core business and represents an enduring commitment to uphold the security of the UK.”

The major operation saw Royal Navy aircrew and sailors and aircrew monitor the Russian ships every move with state-of-the-art radar, surveillance cameras and sensors.

They were able to track their speed and course as they went through the British Isles.

Merlin and Wildcat helicopters of 814 and 815 Naval Air Squadrons also supported.

Portsmouth based HMS Tyne spent more than a week working in the English Channel, in often challenging seas, keeping a close eye on the Russian vessels as they passed the south coast.

They observed three Steregushchiy-class corvettes, two Ropucha-class landing ships and two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates were observed during the operations, plus Russian supporting auxiliary ships and tugs.

It comes after three Russian warships were escorted out of the English Channel by a tiny Royal Navy patrol vessel back in February.

HMS Mersey broke off from a fishery protection patrol to shadow the Russian spy ship Feodor Golovin, landing ship Alexander Ostrakovsky and tanker Yelnya.