Royal Navy tracked three Russian vessels near UK waters

The Royal Navy says it tracked three Russian vessels around British waters in operations spanning late September and October, including an intelligence ship near a NATO exercise off Scotland. Merlin helicopters followed the Russian intelligence-gathering vessel Viktor Leonov near the Outer Hebrides from September 29 to October 8, according to the Navy. It said the ship was monitoring NATO warships taking part in Exercise Strike Warrior, a multinational drill involving more than 2,000 personnel from six countries. The Navy said HMS Dauntless monitored the Russian frigate Neustrashimy in the English Channel from October 1 to October 14 while it escorted sanctioned cargo ships. HMS Tyne tracked the Russian landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin from October 11 to October 14. Reports identify the cargo vessel MV Energy2 and tugboat Proton as accompanying vessels. The movements were described by the Navy as three separate operations. Its account said Neustrashimy had been deployed to protect sanctioned shipments. The Navy also said the United Kingdom had sanctioned more than 500 vessels and seized the tanker Smyrtos in June. Those claims concern the wider sanctions campaign, rather than...