Royal Navy frigate shadows Russian warship in English Channel

A Russian ship sailing through British waters is being shadowed by a Royal Navy frigate.

HMS Sutherland left her base at Devonport in Plymouth to monitor the Vice Admiral Kulakov as it passes along the English Channel.

The Russian destroyer is on her return journey after recently operating in the eastern Mediterranean, where she has been escorted by other NATO warships.

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The Royal Navy says sailors have been watching the ship through binoculars, and have used radar to track her speed and course.

"This transit is being continually monitored through a co-ordinated response between the Royal Navy and our NATO partners," said Commander Trish Kohn, commanding officer of HMS Sutherland.

"The transit of Russian ships from the Mediterranean to their northern ports is not unusual, but the Royal Navy is ready at all times to protect UK territorial waters."

In October, the Royal Navy shadowed a fleet of Russian ships as they passed through the English Channel on their way to the Mediterranean.

Led by the aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov, the ships have been supporting Russia's military operations in Syria.

HMS Sutherland has been patrolling the seas around the UK since the summer.