Ciaran Mcgrath

Royal Navy warships and aircraft spent 21 days in July monitoring Russian vessels and submarines in British waters and the North Atlantic, while deployments during the first seven months of 2026 rose 25% year on year. Much of the surveillance focused on the frigate RFN Neustrashimy, which escorted shadow fleet tankers including MV Vulkan. HMS Tyne monitored Neustrashimy during a gunnery exercise, while HMS Somerset conducted a four-month North Atlantic deployment supporting submarine detection and protection of Britain's nuclear deterrent. HMS Severn also shadowed Russian frigates and took part in surveillance handovers. The increased activity follows Britain's interception of the sanctioned tanker Smyrtos and wider sanctions on more than 500 shadow fleet vessels, aimed at reducing revenue supporting Russia's war in Ukraine and limiting threats to European security.