Three ships being monitored as MoD finds no evidence to support Russian claims that vessels are engaged in military exercises

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The Royal Navy is monitoring a Russian warship that entered the Channel on Tuesday morning.

The Ministry of Defence deployed Plymouth-based HMS Argyll to track the Russian Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk and two support ships, including a tanker.

The MoD, contrary to Russian claims, said there was no evidence the ships were engaged in any military exercises.

The passage of Russian naval vessels through the Channel was until last year regarded as routine. But the west-east tension as a result of the Ukrainian crisis has added an edge to such voyages.

Since the Russian takeover of Crimea, Nato forces have stepped up military exercises along the Russian border, in particular in the Baltics. In response, Russian armed forces have increased sorties, with its pilots flying close to British airspace.

There was a minor row in November when a Russian naval squadron, led by a destroyer, anchored in the Channel. Russia claimed they were conducting military exercises at the time, though Nato denied this.

The Russian news agency Interfax on Tuesday quoted Russia’s defence ministry as saying the ships that entered the Channel would hold anti-aircraft and anti-submarine drills.

The MoD tweeted: “No exercises seen.”

A Lynx helicopter from the Argyll helped monitor the Russian ships, which were returning from the Mediterranean. According to the MoD, the ships are due to leave the Channel later.