Anna Hartz
Tension at sea is nothing new, but it often becomes most visible in the quiet, everyday work of patrol crews.
Once again, British forces have encountered two Russian vessels near the United Kingdom.
The British Navy intercepted the Russian corvette Stoiki and the tanker Elnia as the two ships sailed off the British coast, according to Digi24. Reports from the Associated Press and the Independent, based on information from the Ministry of Defense, described a steady and carefully managed operation.
HMS Severn, a British patrol ship, followed the Russian vessels for nearly two weeks. It stayed on their trail as they passed through the Strait of Dover and continued west.
Routine Cooperation with NATO
Once they approached the waters near Brittany, the task of close tracking was handed over to a NATO partner. HMS Severn kept a wider watch from a greater distance.
The Ministry of Defense did not offer an exact date for when the interception took place. Officials explained that this was part of routine cooperation with NATO and not a sign of sudden escalation.
Britain has also strengthened its monitoring efforts in recent months. Three advanced P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft were recently deployed to Iceland to support a larger NATO mission focused on Russian ship and submarine activity in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.
Rising Number of Russian Ships
According to the ministry, the number of Russian ships moving near British waters has risen by about 30% over the past two years. One vessel, the Russian oceanographic ship Yantar, has drawn particular attention.
Western analysts believe it can operate underwater vehicles. It was observed near Britain in November 2024 and again in January 2025. Last week, Defense Minister John Healy said the crews of the P-8 aircraft were targeted with laser beams from Yantar.
After that incident, patrol aviation increased its oversight of the ship. Healy described Yantar as a possible threat and stated that London would respond to any risky actions.
The Russian embassy dismissed the accusations and claimed that Britain was creating unnecessary alarm. Russian diplomats insisted that Moscow had no interest in British submarine infrastructure and urged London to avoid steps that could raise tensions in Europe.
