Royal Navy monitors Russian activity around British waters over a 21-day period

The Royal Navy has warned of a rise in Russian activity around British waters after spending 21 days in July monitoring Moscow’s vessels.

Naval operations to monitor Russian activity increased by 25% in July compared to the previous year, with warships making repeated trips through the English Channel and the North Sea, according to the UK’s PA Media.

Russia uses its so-called shadow fleet, composed of dilapidated ships, to evade international sanctions on its oil and to fund the war in Ukraine.

Another vessel, the frigate HMS Somerset, participated in monitoring Russian activity in the North Atlantic as part of a four-month NATO deployment focused on submarine hunting, alongside helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm.

The increase in Russian maritime activity follows the boarding of the oil tanker Smiritsa by the Royal Navy in June, marking the first time British troops directly boarded a ship belonging to the shadow fleet.