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Royal Navy Tracks Russian Frigate for One Month Off UK Coast
The Royal Navy monitored a Russian frigate daily throughout April as it sailed from the Atlantic into the North Sea and escorted six Russia-linked vessels. The frigate, identified as the Admiral Grigorovich, passed through the Dover strait with at least three vessels under economic sanctions. The activity follows UK statements on potential seizures of shadow fleet oil tankers.
May 7, 1:09 PM·2m read1 source
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The Royal Navy tracked and followed a Russian frigate every day last month as it sailed from the Atlantic to the North Sea. The Russian navy’s Admiral Grigorovich escorted six Russia-linked vessels during April, including at least three under economic sanction passing east through the Dover strait.
Four UK ships and helicopters monitored the frigate continuously. The frigate maintained its presence near Britain by taking on supplies near Galloper windfarm off the Suffolk coast. Naval spotters believe it remains in the North Sea. A second Russian frigate, the Admiral Kasatonov, passed through the Channel toward the end of April escorting two merchant ships believed to be heading to Tartus in Syria.
One of those merchant ships, the Sparta, is associated with the transport of arms. That convoy was monitored by a British auxiliary ship, the RFA Tideforce. The operations reflect a wider commitment of the UK’s naval resources as maritime tensions between London and Moscow increase.
Russia relies on a shadow fleet of often old, poorly maintained tankers sailing under third country flags for roughly half its seaborne oil exports. UK officials announced on March 25 that the military was authorized to seize ships subject to existing economic sanctions transiting UK waters.
No such seizures have occurred since that announcement. The presence of Russian warships appears to have deterred intervention. Other European countries have seized shadow fleet vessels this year. Sweden detained five tankers, the last of which was boarded on Sunday.
