The United Kingdom has stepped up surveillance of Russian military vessels and submarines operating in UK waters and the North Atlantic, with Royal Navy operations increasing by 25 per cent in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
The UK Ministry of Defence disclosed this on Saturday, saying Royal Navy warships and helicopters spent 21 days in July monitoring Russian naval activity and vessels linked to Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet.
Four Royal Navy vessels HMS Somerset, HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were deployed during the operations, supported by Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin anti-submarine aircraft.
According to the ministry, Russian frigate RFN Neustrashimy repeatedly entered the UK’s area of responsibility while escorting vessels believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet.
The increased activity, it said, has placed additional demands on Royal Navy resources as British forces continue to monitor Russian movements.
The heightened surveillance followed the UK’s interception of the sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel in June.
The British government has sanctioned more than 500 vessels as part of efforts to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet, which it says helps generate revenue for Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
On July 20, HMS Tyne monitored the Neustrashimy as the Russian frigate conducted gunnery exercises outside British and French territorial waters.
The Royal Navy vessel reportedly moved to within five nautical miles of the Russian frigate while monitoring the exercise and gathering intelligence.
The Ministry of Defence said the Russian warship fired about 20 rounds from its main 100mm gun, alongside additional rounds from its 30mm weapon system.
The commanding officer of HMS Tyne, Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields, said the deployment demonstrated the Royal Navy’s ability to maintain surveillance of Russian activity while allowing other fleet units to carry out separate missions.
“Through sustained presence and close cooperation with allies, HMS Tyne was ideally suited to this task, providing reassurance and monitoring while enabling other Fleet units to continue their operational commitments,” Fields said.
Meanwhile, HMS Somerset completed a four-month mission monitoring surface and underwater activity across the North Atlantic.
The Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate, which is equipped with underwater sensors and a Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter, returned to the UK on Friday after covering more than 24,000 nautical miles.
Its commanding officer, Commander Matt Millyard, said the deployment involved tracking submarines, cooperating with NATO allies and supporting the Carrier Strike Group while maintaining a high level of operational readiness.
“This deployment demonstrates exactly what the Royal Navy exists to do, protect the UK and our allies from wherever our interests are threatened,” Millyard said.
HMS Severn was also deployed on two separate occasions in July to monitor Russian warships.
The vessel initially tracked RFN Admiral Grigorovich as the Russian frigate travelled east from the French island of Ushant towards Dover.
Between July 23 and 26, HMS Severn was again deployed to monitor Neustrashimy, taking over surveillance duties from HMS Mersey in the North Sea.
The Russian frigate was being monitored as it escorted the shadow fleet tanker MV Vulkan from the Baltic Sea through the Dover Strait towards Ushant.
HMS Severn and HMS Mersey later resumed monitoring duties as Neustrashimy headed west towards Dover after completing the escort mission.
The executive officer of HMS Severn, Lieutenant Commander Dom Jacobs, said the crew had demonstrated flexibility in responding to changing operational demands while maintaining other training responsibilities.
“I’m really proud of my ship’s company’s ability to adapt quickly to changes of tasking from Fleet Ready Escort to our training output as the Fleet Navigation Training Ship,” Jacobs said.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the operations underscored the Royal Navy’s growing role in monitoring Russian military activity and protecting British and allied interests amid heightened security concerns across the North Atlantic and European waters.
