British warships and aircraft spent roughly two days out of every three in July tracking Russian activity in U.K. waters, the Royal Navy has revealed.
In total Russian warships and submarines were shadowed for 21 days last month; so far this year Russian activity has seen a 25% uplift compared to the same period in 2025, as per an RN statement.
British assets involved included Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset; River-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn; Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron based out of Yeovilton; and Merlin ASW helicopters based out of RNAS Culdrose and Yeovilton.
They tracked Russian warships including the Russian frigate RFN Neustrashimy, which repeatedly transited waters close to the U.K. while escorting commercial shipping.
HMS Tyne was positioned at a range of five nautical miles when the Russian warship carried out a live-fire exercise in international waters not far from the U.K. and French coasts on July 20.
HMS Somerset last week returned to HMNB Devonport after a four-month deployment carrying out Operation Ceto, the ongoing RN Towed Array Patrol Ship (TAPS) mission monitoring surface and sub-surface activity in the North Atlantic.
The Plymouth-based warship had sailed more than 26,500 nautical miles across the North Atlantic during her recent stint at sea. Another Type 23 frigate, HMS St Albans, has taken over Operation Ceto duties, the U.K.’s standing operation to protect Britain’s nuclear deterrent and monitor potential submarine activity.
- You can read more details about July’s shadowing activities on the Royal Navy website
