Royal Navy monitors Russian spy ship task group passing through English Channel
A Royal Navy patrol ship broke off from patrol duties to monitor a Russian spy ship and two other vessels passing through the English Channel for three days.
It is the third time in two months that the Navy has had to keep an eye on Russian ships passing the UK.
Portsmouth-based HMS Mersey, which usually patrols home waters in fishery protection, was sent to follow the progress of the Russian spy ship Feodor Golovin, landing ship Alexander Ostrakovskiy and tanker Yelnya through the Channel.
The ship was accompanied by a Wildcat helicopter from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton.
The Russian ships were returning to their base ports in the Baltic and Barents seas after supporting military operations in Syria.
HMS Mersey met the three vessels as they approached the Channel, taking over from the French Navy which had been accompanying them through the Bay of Biscay.
Lieutenant Alexandra Karavla, the patrol ship's executive officer, said: "Although her routine business is patrolling UK waters and helping to enforce fishery legislation, HMS Mersey was tasked to locate, meet and escort the ships through the English Channel.
"In this we have been well supported by a Royal Navy Wildcat from 815 Naval Air Squadron and by NATO colleagues. Operations like this would not be possible without such support and co-operation."
HMS Mersey and the Wildcat helicopter spent 72 hours monitoring the Russians before handing over to the Dutch Navy at the Strait of Dover.
Earlier this year, HMS Westminster, a frigate, had to keep track of two Russian frigates and their support vessels returning to the Baltic after operations in the Middle East.
Over Christmas, HMS St Albans was sent on a mission to monitor the new Russian warship Admiral Gorshkov.
HMS Mersey patrols UK waters and up to 200 miles into the Atlantic, ensuring international fishing quotas are not exceeded.