Two Russian warships have been intercepted in the English Channel by the Royal Navy, marking the latest episode in a growing pattern of Russian naval activity near UK waters. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that HMS Severn confronted the RFN Stoikiy, a missile corvette, and the Yelnya, a tanker, as the two vessels travelled west through the Dover Strait over the past two weeks.
According to the MoD, HMS Severn escorted the Russian ships before handing over monitoring duties to a NATO partner off the coast of Brittany. The Royal Navy vessel continued to observe from a safe distance and remained prepared to respond to any unexpected or hostile manoeuvres. Officials emphasised that these escorts have become more frequent as Russian vessels repeatedly pass close to UK territorial waters.
Russian Spy Ship’s Laser Incident Heightens Tension
The interception follows a separate incident last week where the Russian intelligence-gathering ship Yantar was detected off the Scottish coastline. Defence sources revealed that Yantar used lasers to interfere with RAF pilots who were tracking its movements, an action Defence Secretary John Healey condemned as “deeply dangerous”. Delivering a direct warning to Moscow and President Vladimir Putin, Healey said: “We see you. We know what you’re doing. We are ready.”
Sharp Rise in Russian Naval Movements
Healey said Russia’s maritime presence around the UK has risen sharply, with a 30% increase in suspicious or provocative vessel activity over the past two years. He described the trend as clear evidence of escalating “Russian aggression right across the board”, noting that the impact extends across Europe, not just Ukraine. The MoD stressed that routine interceptions are now essential to maintaining the security of UK and NATO waters.
Not the Stoikiy’s First Visit to British Waters
This is not the first time Stoikiy has been shadowed by the Royal Navy. In May, two British naval vessels and the 814 Naval Air Squadron — known as the “flying tigers” — escorted the corvette as it moved through the English Channel to meet merchant vessels Sparta IV and General Skobelev. The group later sailed back toward the Baltic Sea under the observation of HMS Hurworth.
Role of HMS Severn in UK Maritime Defence
HMS Severn, built in 2002, is a River-class offshore patrol vessel used to secure UK waters. Alongside sister ships HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey, it carries out foreign warship escorts, fisheries enforcement, and border protection. The MoD said the ship remains a key component of the UK’s maritime security posture as Russian naval movements increase around the British coastline.
The latest interception comes as European security agencies report heightened Russian intelligence operations at sea, including suspected attempts to map critical undersea infrastructure such as power cables and communication lines. NATO states have increased maritime patrols across the North Atlantic and the North Sea, citing Russia’s expanding use of spy vessels and electronic interference capabilities. The UK has boosted airborne and naval surveillance in response, with ministers warning that Russian activity now poses a wider strategic threat to European maritime security.
