Royal Navy tracks Russian intelligence ship and frigate in UK waters (PHOTOS)

Royal Navy warships and helicopters have completed three focused operations across 17 days to monitor Russian activity in UK waters.

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and patrol ship HMS Tyne, along with Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, were all dispatched to report on Russian movements during the final days of September and the opening two weeks of October. 

They were tasked with reporting on the movements of RFN Neustrashimy, as the Russian frigate escorted sanctioned cargo ships through the English Channel. 

Meanwhile, Merlin helicopters were deployed at short notice from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland to conduct Operation Iceblast. 

According to the Royal Navy, the Russian ship was closely monitoring NATO warships taking part in allied training, Exercise Strike Warrior, off the coast of Scotland that involved more than 2,000 personnel from six nations. 

“This tasking was part of a wider series of operations, known collectively as Operation Iceblast, which was designed to test the ability of Merlin Helicopter Force to deploy away from its home base of RNAS Culdrose in force and at short notice," Captain James Hall, the commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, said.

Meanwhile, after handing over responsibility of Neustrashimy to HMS Dauntless, HMS Tyne was tasked to intercept RFN Aleksandr Shabalin, as the Ropucha-class landing ship escorted cargo ship MV Energy-2 accompanied by tugboat Proton. 

Tyne was activated from North Shields to watch every move as the Russians sailed through the English Channel en route to the Baltic Region and was accompanied by a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron. 

"The Royal Navy's ability to monitor and respond to activity around the United Kingdom is fundamental to our role in protecting the nation's interests at sea. HMS Dauntless maintained the close and proficient monitoring of the Russian warship Neustrashimy during her operations within the English Channel, providing reassurance to the UK and our allies whilst contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the maritime environment that surrounds us," HMS Dauntless' Commanding Officer, Commander Neil Skinner, commented.