The United Kingdom has intensified its monitoring of Russian military activity in UK waters and the North Atlantic, with Royal Navy operations increasing by 25 per cent in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
The UK Ministry of Defence said on Saturday that Royal Navy warships and aircraft spent 21 days conducting operations in July to monitor Russian warships and submarines operating near UK waters.
Four Royal Navy vessels, HMS Somerset, HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn, were deployed alongside Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin submarine-hunting aircraft.
The ministry said Russian frigate RFN Neustrashimy had repeatedly entered the UK’s area of responsibility while escorting vessels identified by Britain as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
According to the ministry, the increased Russian activity is placing additional demands on Royal Navy resources as British forces continue to monitor the vessels.
The heightened surveillance follows the interception of the sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel in June.
The British government said it has sanctioned more than 500 vessels as part of efforts to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet, which it accuses of helping to sustain Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
On July 20, Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne monitored the Neustrashimy as the Russian frigate conducted gunnery exercises outside UK and French territorial waters.
The Ministry of Defence said HMS Tyne moved to within five nautical miles of the Russian vessel while observing the exercise and gathering intelligence.
It said the Russian frigate fired about 20 rounds from its main 100-millimetre weapon and additional rounds from its 30-millimetre battery during the exercise.
The commanding officer of HMS Tyne, Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields, said the deployment enabled the Royal Navy to maintain close surveillance of the Russian vessel while allowing other fleet units to continue their operational duties.
Meanwhile, HMS Somerset completed a four-month deployment monitoring surface and underwater activity in the North Atlantic.
The Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate, equipped with underwater sensors and a Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter, returned to the UK on Friday after travelling more than 24,000 nautical miles.
Its commanding officer, Commander Matt Millyard, said the deployment involved tracking submarines, working with NATO allies and supporting the Carrier Strike Group while maintaining a high state of readiness.
HMS Severn was also deployed twice in July to monitor Russian warships.
The vessel initially shadowed RFN Admiral Grigorovich as the Russian frigate travelled east from the French island of Ushant towards Dover.
Between July 23 and 26, HMS Severn was redeployed to monitor the Neustrashimy, taking over from HMS Mersey in the North Sea.
The Royal Navy vessel monitored the Russian frigate as it escorted the shadow fleet tanker MV Vulkan from the Baltic Sea through the Dover Strait towards Ushant.
HMS Severn and HMS Mersey subsequently handed over monitoring duties as the Russian frigate travelled west towards Dover after completing the escort mission.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the increased deployments demonstrate the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect Britain and its allies while responding to evolving security threats in the North Atlantic and surrounding waters.
