The Royal Navy scrambled a warship to shadow a Russian frigate after it was spotted moving through the English Channel.
The Admiral Golovko was seen heading east, prompting the launch of HMS St Albans to escort the vessel out of UK waters. The Navy’s Plymouth-based warship kept close watch on Vladimir Putin’s frigate throughout the operation.
A Merlin helicopter was also deployed to track the Russian ship from above and gather intelligence.
Once the Admiral Golovko entered Mediterranean waters, NATO allies took over the escort duty.
HMS St Albans Commanding Officer, Commander Matt Teare, said: "HMS St Albans is at very high readiness to operate whenever, and wherever, the nation needs us in the protection of our home and the waters surrounding it.
“We have twice been activated in recent weeks to conduct this type of operation and I am extremely proud of the professionalism of my crew and their tireless dedication to keeping our nation safe.
“We were proud to work alongside HMS Mersey and I would like to thank RFA Tidesurge for her logistical support during the operation.”
Commander Teare added: “HMS St Albans is currently operating as part of a NATO Task Group and the regularity of Russian activity around the United Kingdom reinforces the vital importance of continuous integration with our allies and partners.”
The interception comes just two weeks after HMS St Albans was deployed on a similar mission, shadowing the Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoikiy for three days.
Earlier in March, another armed Russian warship was spotted escorting a sanctioned cargo vessel through the English Channel.
The Royal Navy monitored corvette Boikiy as it guided the Baltic Leader — a merchant vessel sanctioned by the US for transporting Russian military hardware — through UK waters.
HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, "watched every move" as the warship and cargo ship transited the North Sea and the Channel, using its Merlin helicopter to gather intelligence while working alongside NATO allies.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “The British Type 23 frigate utilised its powerful sensors and radars to report on Russian movements, launching her Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron to gather valuable information from the sky.
“The ship worked hand in hand with UK patrol aircraft and allied NATO forces during the operation, providing constant watch on the task group.”
It comes as the Royal Navy’s biggest warship, HMS Prince of Wales, set sail from Portsmouth on Wednesday to begin an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
