NATO warships shadow three Russian nuke subs

Tensions mount after Poland downs drones

- By Marco Giannangeli DEFENCE EDITOR

NATO has launched a major operation to counter three Russian nuclear submarines which surged into the North Sea in recent days, as Poland’s prime minister ordered 40,000 troops to defend the country’s borders and warned Europe is closer than ever to war.

As tensions with Moscow escalated, Defence Secretary John Healey ordered an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane to monitor Russian troop concentrations near Estonia.

And on Friday, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte confirmed the UK would deploy equipment on the border with Belarus, Russia and Ukraine as part of operation Eastern Sentry to deter potential Russian aggression.

The submarines, part of president Vladimir Putin’s Northern Fleet, were first detected by top-secret sensors off Norway’s coast.

NATO warships have since been shadowing the Russian vessels.