Royal Navy shadows Russian submarine in English Channel for three days

The Royal Navy and its NATO allies have carried out a three-day surveillance operation of the Russian submarine B-265 Krasnodar as it passed through the English Channel accompanied by a support vessel.

Source: The Telegraph; Le Figaro

Details: The report concerns the Russian Kilo-class (NATO classification) diesel-electric submarine Krasnodar and its tugboat, the Altay. The Royal Navy deployed a specialised Merlin anti-submarine helicopter and the RFA tanker Tidesurge to ensure continuous surveillance.

The Russian vessels arrived from the North Sea, passed through the Strait of Dover and entered the English Channel. It is known that these ships left their home port on 7 December.

The Royal Navy stressed that it was ready to "initiate anti-submarine operations" if the submarine had attempted to submerge. However, despite poor weather conditions, the Krasnodar remained on the surface throughout its route.

Near the French island of Ushant, the Royal Navy handed over the task of monitoring the Russian vessels to NATO allies.

Royal Navy command notes that this operation is part of enhanced monitoring of Russian activity, which has increased significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Over the past two years London has recorded a 30% rise in the number of Russian ships that "threaten the waters of the United Kingdom".

Background:

• In July, Royal Air Force aircraft and naval forces shadowed another Russian submarine, the Novorossiysk, which was detected in the country's territorial waters.
• Last month there was an incident involving the Russian spy ship Yantar off the coast of Scotland. The Russians directed laser beams at a Boeing P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft in an attempt to dazzle the pilots.
• After this incident, Defence Secretary John Healey warned the Kremlin that the UK would change its rules of engagement and be ready to use force in the event of further provocations.
• Against the backdrop of the growing threat, on 8 December Healey announced the creation of the Atlantic Bastion system, a project to protect undersea cables and pipelines from Russian sabotage.
• The UK has also signed a defence pact with Norway that provides for the creation of a joint naval fleet.

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