Royal Navy's in action to keep track of Russian ships

Royal Navy warships and helicopters were activated for the second time this month to report on Russian activity in UK waters.

- By Dean Murray

HMS Dragon monitored the Russian intelligence gathering ship Yuri Ivanov as it loitered in waters off the Outer Hebrides following a major Nato exercise, Formidable Shield, that took place nearby.

The Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer continued to watch and launched her Merlin helicopter to collect information from above, until the Yuri Ivanov headed north towards its home in the Arctic.

Meanwhile, HMS Ledbury, HMS Hurworth and 814 Naval Air Squadron shadowed RFN Stoikiy as the Russian warship sailed west through the Channel to meet two merchant vessels, Sparta IV and General Skobelev, which were returning from the Mediterranean.

Escorted