- HMS Westminster, which last month tested missile system, sent into Channel
- It is reportedly escorting Russian naval vessels through the Strait of Dover
- Incident is the latest contact between the two forces in the English Channel
The Royal Navy has sent a frigate into the English Channel to escort Russian warships through the Strait of Dover.
The Portsmouth-based HMS Westminster has been sent out to accompany the Russian ships off the coast of Britain.
The Royal Navy has repeatedly had to send ships out to meet Russian vessels in recent months, amid growing militarism from the Kremlin.
The HMS Westminster has reportedly been sent into the Channel to escort Russian ships
On Christmas Day, the frigate HMS St Albans was dispatched to track the Russian vessel Admiral Gorshkov as it made its way through the North Sea close to Britain.
And on Christmas Eve, HMS Tyne was dispatched to escort a Russian intelligence-gathering ship through the North Sea and the England Channel.
A Wildcat helicopter was then also dispatched to monitor two further Russian vessels.
Giving an unusually strong statement last month, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: ‘I will not hesitate in defending our waters or tolerate any form of aggression.
‘Britain will never be intimidated when it comes to protecting our country, our people, and our national interests.’
Last month the HMS Westminster, a Type 23 ‘Duke-class’ frigate, became the Royal Navy’s second ship to successfully fire the multi-million pound Sea Ceptor missile system.
Parts of the ship were used for filming scenes in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan.
The HMS Westminster was recently used to test out a new missile system for the Royal Navy