Royal Navy scrambled as four Russian warships sail through English Channel
THE Royal Navy is conducting a “live operation” as four Russian warships pass through the English Channel ahead of combat drills in the Atlantic Ocean.
By Joshua Nevett
DailyStar.co.uk
23rd October 2018
A group of warships from Russia’s Baltic Fleet, including two corvettes, a medium tanker and a tug boat, has been dispatched for a long-distance voyage in the North Atlantic.
The Russian ships are set to sail past Britain after departing from the fleet’s main naval base of Baltiysk, located in Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea.
Fleet spokesman Roman Martov confirmed the Steregushchiy-class corvettes Soobrazitelny and Boiky, sea tanker Kola and sea tug Konetsky have embarked in a statement on Monday.
A spokesman for the Royal Navy confirmed activity was taking place in the English Channel but said they cannot comment on “live operations”.
Royal Navy vessels are regularly deployed to escort Russian ships near UK waters.
The Royal Navy operation comes at a time of heightened tensions between Britain and Russia, with the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter damaging relations.
Blistling with machine guns,anti-submarine missiles, the two corvettes have been deployed in an apparent show of force by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Commenting on their mission, Martov said the warships will carry out “various combat training assignments”, including air defense and anti-submarine drills.
Each will transport Ka-27PS anti-submarine helicopters, which will perform flights in the Atlantic.
“A group of warships of the Baltic Fleet has left the Fleet’s man naval base of Baltiysk for a voyage in distant waters to accomplish planned missions in the North Atlantic,” he told Russian news agency TASS.
“Aboard the corvettes are Ka-27PS anti-submarine warfare helicopters and the naval group’s crews comprise marine infantry units that have undergone special training.”
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