Royal Navy keeps watch as Russian ships sail through English Channel

THE Royal Navy has shadowed another Russian task group as it passed near British waters.

- Marco Giannangeli

HMS Somerset, a Type-23 frigate equipped with anti-submarine capabilities, closely followed the Russian corvette Boikiy as it escorted merchant vessel Baltic Leader from Syria through the English Channel and North Sea.

The sanctioned cargo ship was returning to Russia reportedly packed with military gear from Moscow's Tartus base for possible use in Ukraine as the naval facility is wound down.

HMS Somerset's three-day operation marked the second time in two weeks the Navy has safeguarded the UK as Vladimir Putin's vessels sailed close by.