Royal Navy shadows two Russian cargo ships and warship through the Channel
Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne and a Wildcat helicopter were deployed
A Royal Navy patrol ship and a Wildcat helicopter have been deployed to shadow two separate sanctioned Russian cargo ships with their escorting warships as they sailed through the English Channel.
Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne and the aircraft from Yeovilton-based 815 Naval Air Squadron were tasked with monitoring Russian Navy Ropucha-class landing ship Aleksandr Otrakovsky and merchant vessel Sparta IV.
The ships were first monitored by HMS Cutlass of the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron as they sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar's Traffic Separation Scheme, before an allied warship tracked the journey north, before HMS Tyne took over the monitoring.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: "During the Russians' voyage through the Atlantic, English Channel and into the North Sea, British warship Tyne utilised powerful sensors and radars to report on every move, with the Wildcat simultaneously flying a sortie over the Channel to provide additional surveillance and security."
Then two days later, the same Royal Navy crews were deployed to follow the Russian Ropucha-class warship, Aleksandr Shabalin, and cargo vessel MV Sabetta as they sailed westward through the English Channel.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: "I am proud of everything that our exceptional Armed Forces are doing to keep Britain safe - both around the UK and on deployments overseas.
"While our UK forces are in action in the Middle East to protect British people, British interests and our partners, this operation sends a warning to Putin: we are watching you.
"Iran's dangerous, indiscriminate attacks will not distract us from deterring Russia and supporting Ukraine. We are ready to track, deter and defend our nation."
HMS Tyne's executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Matt Cavill, said: "Maintaining the security of our island nation is paramount to ensuring we can project a global presence.
"The way in which we collaborate with allied nations assures us of the collective strength which we require in an uncertain world.
"Operations such as these are vital to demonstrate resolve, protect our waters and gain intelligence to support future operations."
Commander James Woods, commanding officer of 815 Naval Air Squadron, said: "This routine tasking reflects our continued vigilance and underscores the very high readiness of our people and aircraft as we work to safeguard the UK's national interests and support our Nato commitments."