The HMS St. Albans with 190 sailors on board was used to escort the Russian Admiral Gorshkov frigate through what British officials called ‘areas of national interest’ on Christmas Day.
Britain’s Royal Navy shadowed a Russian warship through the North Sea near U. K. waters on Christmas Day, officials said Tuesday. The escort comes amid a recent “upsurge in Russian units transiting U. K. waters,” the Royal Navy said.
It is not immediately clear why there are more Russian ships traveling near or through U. K. waters, but it comes amid soured relations between Britain and Russia over Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea, Russia’s support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad and allegations Russia meddled in Britain’s vote to leave the European Union — Brexit.
The Russian Admiral Gorshkov frigate was tracked by the HMS St. Albans, a Royal Navy frigate with 190 sailors on board. The Russian ship was also shadowed by a navy helicopter as it transited through what British officials called “areas of national interest.”
Britain’s Defense Secretary Gavin William said his country would not “hesitate in defending our waters or tolerate any form of aggression.”
William added: “Britain will never be intimidated when it comes to protecting our country, our people, and our national interests.”
British officials previously warned that Russian ships transiting through U. K. waters risk cutting undersea Internet cables. These cables sit on the seabed and are a vital communication connection that link the country to continental Europe.
