The Royal Navy has closely monitored the movement of three Russian vessels as they passed through the English Channel.

Among them, Russian survey ship Admiral Vladimirskiy was escorted by minehunter HMS Cattistock and a Wildcat helicopter. The Royal Navy reported that the British crew maintained a "constant watch" on the vessel as it navigated the busy channel.

Shortly after, HMS Somerset and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Tidesurge were dispatched to escort the Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky and the merchant vessel MV Ascalon as they traveled from the Mediterranean toward the Baltic Sea via the Channel and North Sea.

These escort missions come on the heels of a similar operation just a week earlier, where Royal Navy ships and aircraft tracked a Russian task group returning from Syria.

Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, Commanding Officer of HMS Cattistock, said:

“Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months, demonstrating the Royal Navy’s operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea."

He praised his crew’s professionalism and coordination with other Royal Navy units, the RAF P-8 patrol aircraft, and NATO allies.

HMS Somerset has been deployed three times in the past month alone to monitor Russian convoys returning from the Mediterranean, according to the Navy.

Commander Joel Roberts of HMS Somerset added:

“Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the UK’s territorial and sensitive waters. The Royal Navy’s high-readiness posture ensures we can respond quickly and offer deterrence, presence, and flexibility to support national interests.” Photo by Mil.ru, Wikimedia commons.