Royal Navy warship shadows Russian vessel through the Channel

The Royal Navy has shadowed a Russian warship through stormy seas close to the UK.

Plymouth-based warship HMS Richmond kept constant watch on Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, tracking her in the North Sea and maintaining permanent contact.

Type 23 frigate Richmond was in Stavanger, Norway, for NATO trials and training when she was deployed to monitor the Grigorovich.

After first monitoring their activity in the North Sea, Richmond with her 185-strong crew continued to shadow the Russian warship through the Dover Strait and down towards the Mediterranean Sea – all the while contending with choppy conditions in the wake of Storm Ciarán.

“The English Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Close monitoring and shadowing of Russian warships in UK waters and adjacent sea areas encourages their compliance with maritime law and deters malign activity,” said HMS Richmond’s Commanding Officer Commander Chris L’Amie.

“By maintaining a visible and persistent presence, the Royal Navy is demonstrating our steadfast commitment to the NATO alliance and maintaining maritime security, which is crucial to our national interests.”