Royal Navy monitors Russian activity in waters off the Outer Hebrides

Royal Navy warships and helicopters were activated after receiving reports of Russian activity in UK waters for the second time this month.

HMS Dragon monitored a Russian intelligence gathering ship Yuri Ivanov as it loitered in waters off the Outer Hebrides following the completion of major NATO exercise Formidable Shield that took place nearby.

HMS Dragon tracks Russian intelligence gathering ship Yuri Ivanov. Royal Navy

The incident marked the second time Russian activity was reported in UK waters within weeks.

HMS Dragon, a Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer, launched the Merlin helicopter to collect information from above, until the Yuri Ivanov headed north towards its home in the Arctic.

Earlier this month, HMS Ledbury, HMS Hurworth and 814 Naval Air Squadron were also activated to shadow RFN Stoikiy as the Russian warship sailed west through the Channel to meet two merchant vessels.

HMS Hurworth tracks RFN Stoikiy. Royal Navy

The Russian vessel subsequently escorted the two cargo ships eastbound, with HMS Hurworth monitoring as the group headed back to the Baltic Sea as part of combined NATO efforts.

This five-day operation comes after the Prime Minister’s increase in defence spending.

Lieutenant Commander James Bradshaw, commanding officer of Hunt-class minehunter HMS Hurworth, said: “Monitoring activity on the seas and seabed around the UK is one of the core roles of the Royal Navy’s 2nd Mine-Countermeasures Squadron.

“This operation was all in a day’s work for the ship’s company who have shown great professionalism.

“We have kept a constant watch to ensure the security and integrity of the UK’s critical sea lanes.”

HMS Ledbury met Stoikiy late on May 18, monitoring the Russian warship through the Dover Strait during its westbound journey, before HMS Hurworth took over on May 19, off Brighton.

Hurworth kept watch as Stoikiy met the two merchant vessels south-west of Land’s End, with the minehunter then tracking the group eastbound through the Channel and into the North Sea until the operation ended on the afternoon of May 22.

During the eastbound transit, a Merlin Mk2 from 814 Naval Air Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose monitored the Russian group, with aircraft and warships from NATO allies also involved.

Lieutenant commander Craig Clark, Commanding Officer of HMS Ledbury, said escorting Russian vessels through UK waters is a “vital demonstration” of the organisation’s commitment to national security.

“Whilst the Hunt-class is uniquely equipped for mine and sea-bed warfare, maritime security remains a crucial task that any Royal Navy warship is trained to undertake,” he said.

Able seaman mine warfare Wayne Slater, from HMS Hurworth, said driving the ship close to the Russian vessels was a “new experience” as a helmsman.

“Everything has been safe and professional but we’re all trained to make sure we can respond to any aggression or incident whenever non-allied warships are operating near UK waters,” he said.

Lieutenant Patrick Bingham, gunnery oficer from HMS Hurworth, added: “As a former merchant navy officer, I know how important freedom of the seas is to the lifeline of goods and raw materials upon which our economy depends.

“The Royal Navy has been a guardian of the freedom of the seas for centuries and I am privileged to have contributed to this mission.”