Royal Navy tracks more Russian vessels amid 25% rise in monitoring operations

Four Royal Navy warships have been involved in a concentrated three-day operation monitoring Russian naval and sanctioned merchant vessels around the UK. This is routine activity, but RN activations to track Russian ships have increased by 25% during the first eight months of this year compared with the same period in 2025.

On 21st August, HMS Duncan, HMS St Albans and HMS Severn tracked the Russian destroyer RFS Admiral Levchenko as she escorted the sanctioned cargo ships MV General Skobelev and MV Sparta south through the North Sea and English Channel.

A Merlin HM2 helicopter operating from HMS St Albans extended surveillance of the group as it approached the Strait of Dover. The RN ships continued monitoring through the Channel before handing responsibility to a NATO ally near Ushant off the French coast.

Russia also deployed the frigate RFS Neustrashimy to accompany the vessels during their passage. Increased pressure on Russia’s sanctioned shipping is forcing Moscow to divert naval assets to protect merchant vessels that might otherwise be available for military tasks. This persistent presence also has the benefit for Moscow of keeping the RN tied down in an almost permanent surveillance operation

Separately, HMS Mersey shadowed the Russian support tanker MV Akademik Pashin as it sailed nearby, bringing the number of RN warships involved in monitoring Russian movements during the 3-day period to four.

The operation follows the UK interdiction of the sanctioned tanker MV Smyrtos in the English Channel in June. According to the RN, Russian shadow fleet vessels have increasingly altered their routes since the operation, adding time and cost to their voyages. (The Smyrtos is still at anchor off Portland with her cargo of 100,000 barrels of crude oil on board, 11 weeks since she was seized).

The UK has now sanctioned more than 500 vessels associated with Russia’s shadow fleet. The government says the measures are intended to restrict revenue available to Moscow and reduce the risks posed by poorly regulated vessels carrying Russian oil.

HMS St Albans is currently in Faslane but held at very high readiness on operation CETO, primarily dedicated to monitoring Russian submarine activity. HMS Severn has already been activated three times this month to monitor Russian movements. Earlier deployments included tracking Neustrashimy in the Channel and subsequently working with HMS Tyne to shadow the frigate RFS Admiral Gorshkov, hydrographic vessel MV Romuald Muklevich and MV Akademik Pashin.

After completing the latest operation, HMS Duncan sailed to Copenhagen, arriving on 23rd August for defence engagement with the Danish Navy. She sailed yesterday and headed north out of the Baltic.

Royal Navy tracks more Russian vessels amid 25% rise in monitoring operations