The Royal Navy of Great Britain tracked a Russian submarine of the "Krasnodar" class in the English Channel. The incident underscores the growing tensions in British waters and the government's readiness to defend national interests, according to BBC.
The Royal Navy stated that the tanker Tidesurge and the Merlin helicopter tracked the submarine and its tugboat "Altai" during a three-day operation. It was moving from the North Sea through the Dover Strait and further through the English Channel.
The fleet's message states that it was ready to transition to anti-submarine operations if the "Krasnodar" submerged. After the vessel passed to the northwest of France, monitoring was handed over to NATO allies.
According to government data, the number of Russian vessels threatening British waters has increased by 30% over the past two years, although Russia blames Britain for provocations.
This week, Defense Minister John Healey announced the "Atlantic Bastion" program aimed at protecting underwater cables and pipelines from Russian threats.
At the same time, critics doubt the fleet's resources for effectively carrying out the task.
The British side claims that the Russian vessel was used for reconnaissance and mapping underwater cables.
"We see you. We know what you are doing. And we are ready," Healey emphasized.
The Russian embassy reacted, urging Great Britain not to escalate the situation on the European continent.
The incident involving the "Krasnodar" is not an isolated case of Russian fleet activity in British waters. A month ago, a Russian reconnaissance ship directed lasers at Royal Air Force pilots who were tracking it.
The "Atlantic Bastion" program was a response to the growing threats from the Russian fleet and cyberattacks on British institutions. Tension in the English Channel reflects a broader context of increasing strain between Great Britain and Russia.
