Images show Royal Navy escorting Russian task group close to UK waters

Images show HMS Portland escorting the Russian Gorshkov-class guided missile frigate, Admiral Kasatonov, and support tanker, Akademik Pashin through British waters.

Pictures released by the Royal Navy show the Plymouth-based vessel sailing alongside the Russian frigate and shadowing its movements. 

The Navy warship was seen escorting a Russian frigate and tanker in waters close to the UK after shadowing the task group through the English Channel on Sunday morning.

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The British Type 23 frigate followed the Russians through the English Channel on Sunday as they headed towards the North Sea, the Royal Navy continued to observe the Russians as they sailed north through the Bay of Biscay.

The Admiral Kasatonov of Russia's Northern Fleet has been operating in the eastern Mediterranean since early 2022, amid Russia's illegal invasion in Ukraine, while Akademik Pashin was in the region later in the year.

HMS Portland with her specialist Merlin helicopter embarked – both equipped with cutting-edge sonars, sensors and torpedoes for specialist operations – are reporting on the movements of the Russian ships.

The ship's Commanding Officer, Commander Ed Moss-Ward, said: "The Royal Navy routinely responds to escort warships in our territorial waters and the adjacent sea areas to ensure compliance with maritime law and to deter malign activity.

"Escorting the Russian task group alongside allied partners demonstrates the commitment of the Royal Navy and the Nato alliance to maintaining maritime security which is crucial to our national interests."

The Russians passed through the Strait of Gibraltar last Wednesday and Nato warships have escorted them throughout their journey.

In January, HMS Portland was involved in monitoring the movements of another Russian warship in the North Sea.

The Type 23 frigate and her embarked Merlin tracked the Russian guided missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov and accompanying tanker Kama as they transited through international waters close to Britain.