Key facts
- The Royal Navy said Merlin helicopters tracked the Viktor Leonov near the Outer Hebrides from September 29 to October 8, 2026.
- Exercise Strike Warrior involved 2,000 personnel from six nations, according to the Royal Navy.
- The Royal Navy said HMS Dauntless and HMS Tyne intercepted the frigate Neustrashimy in October as it escorted sanctioned cargo ships.
- The Royal Navy said HMS Tyne intercepted the landing ship RNF Aleksandr Shabalin between October 11 and 14, 2026.
- The UK has sanctioned more than 500 Russian vessels and seized the oil tanker Smyrtos in June 2026, the Royal Navy said.
- Ukraine's government register listed 1,404 vessels as part of Russia's shadow fleet as of May 2026.
The UK Royal Navy said on November 2, 2026, that it tracked the Russian intelligence ship Viktor Leonov as it monitored NATO military drills off the coast of Scotland. British Merlin helicopters shadowed the Vishnya-class intelligence-gathering ship near the Outer Hebrides from September 29 to October 8, the Navy said.
According to the Royal Navy, the ship was observing NATO warships taking part in Exercise Strike Warrior near Scotland, which involved 2,000 personnel from six nations. The Navy said the Russians had been forced to deploy the warship over the last three months to protect their illegal shipments.
The Royal Navy said its frigate HMS Dauntless and patrol ship HMS Tyne intercepted another Russian vessel, the frigate Neustrashimy, in October as it escorted sanctioned cargo ships through the English Channel. HMS Tyne was also tasked with intercepting the landing ship RNF Aleksandr Shabalin between October 11 and 14, which the Navy said was escorting a Russian shadow fleet vessel and a tugboat.
The Navy said London had conducted three operations in just over two weeks to track and intercept Russian intelligence-gathering ships and warships. It added that the UK has sanctioned more than 500 Russian vessels and seized the oil tanker Smyrtos in June 2026.
Moscow has been increasingly relying on naval escorts for its shadow fleet vessels, as European governments have begun intercepting tankers Russia uses to evade sanctions. As of May 2026, the Ukrainian government register identified 1,404 vessels as part of Russia's shadow fleet.