Key facts
- The Royal Navy spent 21 days in July monitoring Russian vessels.
- This represents a 25% increase in monitoring time compared to the previous year.
- Russian naval activity around UK waters has increased by 30% over the past two years.
- The UK has sanctioned over 500 vessels, with Russia's oil and gas revenues falling by 24% year-on-year in 2025.
- HMS Somerset is currently on a four-month NATO deployment in the North Atlantic searching for submarines.
The Royal Navy has observed a significant increase in Russian naval activity around the United Kingdom's waters, reporting a 25% rise in monitoring time in July compared to the previous year. Warships and aircraft were deployed throughout the month to shadow Russian frigates, including the Neustrashimy and Admiral Grigorovich, which are involved in escorting oil tankers as part of Russia's "shadow fleet." This surge in activity reflects a broader trend, with the Ministry of Defence noting a 30% increase in Russian naval presence over the past two years.
These operations are part of a wider effort to counter Russian influence and potential threats. The Ministry of Defence's annual report indicated that Royal Navy vessels were activated 116 times in the year to March 2026, shadowing numerous Russian warships and merchant vessels. This heightened surveillance includes operations to deter vessels like the spy ship Yantar, which was previously observed near undersea cables off Scotland. The use of the "shadow fleet" by Russia is seen as a strategy to evade international sanctions on its oil and to fund its ongoing military operations.
The increased Russian naval presence follows recent events, such as the seizure of the tanker Smyrtos by Royal Marines in June, marking the first direct boarding of a shadow fleet vessel by British troops. The Ministry of Defence stated that Russia's diversion of ships to escort these tankers consumes valuable operational capacity. The UK has implemented sanctions against over 500 vessels, contributing to a reported 24% year-on-year fall in Russia's oil and gas revenues in 2025.
Further demonstrating the Navy's role, HMS Tyne monitored the Neustrashimy during a live-firing exercise outside British and French waters on July 20. Meanwhile, HMS Somerset has been engaged in monitoring Russian activity in the North Atlantic as part of a four-month NATO deployment focused on submarine detection. The commanding officer of HMS Somerset emphasized the Navy's mission to protect UK and allied interests from threats.