Royal Navy tracked Russian warships and shadow fleet tankers through the Channel in an 'intense' 72-hour operation
HMS St Albans was one of three Royal Navy warships that spent 72 hours shadowing Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko and sanctioned cargo vessels through the English Channel.Keir Starmer visited HMS St Albans as the First Sea Lord warned Russia's shadow fleet poses 'an unacceptable risk' to UK security, with Royal Navy monitoring of Russian movements up 25% this year.
Three Royal Navy warships, a patrol vessel, and a Merlin helicopter spent 72 hours last week tracking a Russian destroyer and two sanctioned cargo ships on their southward passage through the North Sea and into the English Channel. Russia was compelled to deploy the Neustrashimy frigate to protect the illegal shipment — an acknowledgement of the strain the operation placed on Moscow. Monitoring of Russian vessels is up 25 per cent this year compared to 2025, with warships repeatedly probing the Dover Strait and North Sea.
First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said shadow fleet vessels pose 'an unacceptable risk' and there is 'no room for complacency.'
The operation follows Royal Marines boarding Russian tanker Smyrtos in June — the first time British troops had directly seized a shadow fleet vessel.
The Kremlin has threatened the UK this week after Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv and pledged military support, including missile blueprints, to Ukraine.
