Navy Intercepts Russian Vessels In English Channel

The Royal Navy has intercepted a number of Russian vessels in the English Channel.

Patrol ship HMS Mersey was called to locate and monitor the ships as they passed through the waters over the bank holiday weekend.

It is the fourth incident of its kind to have occurred in the past two months.

Intelligence ship Vasily Tatishchev, depot ship PM82 and frigate Severomorsk were all intercepted.

Lieutenant Commander George Storton, HMS Mersey’s Commanding Officer, described the incident as "routine business for the Royal Navy".

He said: "HMS Mersey was ready to respond within a matter of hours to this tasking.

"HMS Mersey herself is well-versed in this role with this being the fourth such operation in the last two months."

Mersey is one of four River-class patrol ships, three of which conduct fishery protection, general patrols and other maritime security duties around the UK.

A fourth, HMS Clyde, is permanently deployed to the Falkland Islands.

Earlier this year Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset shadowed a surfaced Russian submarine as it passed through the English Channel.