GETTY•CREATIVE COMMONS The Royal Navy have moved to intercept Russian ships in the Channel

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The Royal Navy Frigate HMS Westminster has been sent to intercept the ships. Sky News defence correspondent Alistair Bunkall tweeted this morning: "Royal Navy Frigate HMS Westminster is en route to intercept and a number of Russian naval ships sailing through the English Channel.” Russia regularly tests the patience of its European rivals by buzzing rival territory using jets and ships.

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In November last year the Russian destroyer destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov raised tensions when it passed through the Channel without permission. Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset was scrambled to escort the ship from UK waters as it returned from the Mediterranean Sea. And in August NATO jets were scrambled to intercept Russian jets flying over Europe, buzzing Estonian territory.