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Nearly 200 Royal Navy sailors were recalled on Christmas Day so they could be deployed to shadow Russian warships spotted in the North Sea and English Channel. The crew of frigate HMS Somerset set sail on Friday December 27, to keep a watch on the corvette RFS Soobrazitelny and two support vessels, MV Sparta II and MV General Skobelev for almost 500 miles. The Russian ships remained in international waters until December 31 when Somerset finished shadowing them.
A Navy helicopter was also deployed to support the mission. It also captured aerial images of the operation released by the marine force this morning. The Russian manoeuvres are just the latest grandstanding effort by Russia under Putin as he continues to posture against NATO and the West amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Top Naval officers have given their thanks to sailors for answering the call of duty at the peak of the festive period – dropping plans at the last second to protect Britain.
HMS Somerset’s commanding officer, Commander Joel Roberts, said: ‘As the UK is an island nation, at all times of the year the Royal Navy maintains units at very high readiness to conduct operations in support of the UK’s national objectives. ‘Maintaining maritime security, demonstrating an assertive presence, ensuring compliance with maritime law, and deterring malign activity in our territorial and adjacent waters are essential components of our maritime strategy and crucial to our national interests.’ Warrant Officer Stephen Doyle, the frigate’s executive warrant officer, said: ‘Despite being recalled on Christmas day, HMS Somerset’s crew spun up at short notice for operational tasking in a swift and professional manner.’
‘Personnel returned from leave from all parts of the UK; although returning during this period is always emotional, the requirement for the tasking was understood by all onboard. Support from our families remains a key factor in allowing the sailors to perform at the highest level.’ Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said: ‘I would like to thank the crew of HMS Somerset for their dedication after readying themselves for action at short notice during the Christmas period, and promptly setting sail from Devonport to keep the UK safe. All the sailors involved are testament to the professionalism of the UK Armed Forces, with thousands more sailors, soldiers, and aviators keeping us secure at home and strong abroad, throughout the year.’
A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘With conditions in the Channel and North Sea foggy, aside from visually monitoring the Russian ships’ progress, HMS Somerset used her extensive suite of hi-tech sensors to follow the trio for more than 500 miles. When the weather has cleared, the ship’s Merlin helicopter, provided by 814 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, became airborne to support the monitoring mission and also capture imagery of both the Russian vessels and HMS Somerset’s shadowing operation. The manoeuvres came a month after Putin’s suspected spy ship was sent packing from the Irish Sea – and days after Finnish police boarded another Russian boat suspected of sabotaging an underwater power cable. The Yantar, described by Russia as an oceanographic research vessel, was spotted off the coast of the Isle of Man, prompting Royal Navy and Irish defence chiefs to send boats in response. RAF jets have also been scrambled in recent months after Russian jets have skimmed British airspace, as Putin continues to posture in defiance at the ongoing international outrage against his continuing campaign in Ukraine.
Last week, Finnish police boarded the Russian oil tanker Eagle S after suspecting it of dragging its anchor to rupture the Estlink 2 power link between Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day. A 60-mile long drag mark was discovered in the Gulf of Finland. In response, Finnish police raided the vessel and seized it, suspecting it of being part of Putin’s so-called ‘dark fleet’ used to evade sanctions. The Eagle S has since been anchored in Svartbeck near Porvoo, 30 miles east of Helsinki, while Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation continues investigating on board the ship. Seven staff members designated suspects have been banned from leaving the country, Detective Chief Inspector Elina Katajamäki said yesterday.
Underwater investigations are continuing around the site of the drag marks with the support of Finnish border police. In response, NATO is urgently boosting patrols in the Gulf of Finland, a busy seaway also widely used by Russian naval and commercial shipping. Elsewhere in the world, the Portuguese Navy escorted Russian naval forces in the Mediterranean – under the watchful eye of NATO’s Maritime Operations Centre (MOC). In a pointed message shared on X on December 30, the MOC made clear NATO would not be intimidated by Putin’s flexing.
Sharing an image of the Russian ship, it said: ‘We. Are. Watching. The Portuguese Navy escorted Russian Naval Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean recently. The Maritime Operations Center monitored the activity of these ships with NRP Álvares Cabral and NRP Sines which accompanied these ships during their navigations along the continent’s EEZ. NATO Allied Maritime Command’s ever-present coordinated efforts with regional allies and partners ensures the defense and security of the maritime environment 24/7/365.’
But the bold gestures are likely a cover for Russia’s weakening military position in Ukraine – with an estimated 760,000 soldiers killed or injured as of November, according to Ukraine’s estimates. The Kremlin has passed a new law that writes off loan debts for all new recruits and their spouses, up to 10 million rubles (£72,000) in a bid to drive military recruitment. Putin is also facing questions following the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38, after he admitted Russian anti-air defences had been operating at the time the plane came down. Russia has not accepted responsibility for causing the crash.
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