Russian Warships Monitored Near UK by HMS Somerset Over Holidays.

According to information published by the UK MoD on January 1, 2025, the Royal Navy maintained a vigilant watch over a Russian naval task group passing the British Isles during the Christmas holidays. HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, was mobilized on December 27 after the corvette RFS Soobrazitelny and its support vessels, MV Sparta II and MV General Skobelev, were detected in the North Sea.
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Royal Navy's HMS Somerset monitors the movements of the Russian corvette RFS Soobrazitelny. (Picture source: UK MoD)

The crew of HMS Somerset, recalled from their Christmas leave, swiftly prepared for deployment, leaving Devonport Naval Base to intercept and shadow the Russian vessels. Despite challenging foggy conditions, the ship relied on its advanced sensor suite to track the group’s movements for over 500 miles as they traversed the Dover Strait and entered the English Channel.

A Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron, stationed at RNAS Culdrose, provided aerial support during the mission. When weather conditions allowed, the helicopter conducted surveillance and captured imagery of both the Russian ships and HMS Somerset’s operations.

Context

The Russian shadow fleet represents a covert network of vessels employed by Russia to bypass international sanctions, particularly targeting its oil exports. This fleet has grown substantially following the imposition of sanctions in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, now comprising over 1,100 vessels, including many aging tankers acquired to sustain oil transportation.

Operating under flags of convenience from countries with lax maritime regulations and employing opaque ownership structures, the fleet uses deceptive practices such as disabling Automatic Identification Systems, conducting ship-to-ship transfers in remote waters, and falsifying cargo documentation. These activities enable the fleet to obscure the origins and destinations of shipments.

The shadow fleet poses significant risks across various domains. Environmentally, its reliance on old and poorly maintained vessels raises the potential for spills and other ecological disasters, as seen in incidents like the December 2024 oil spill in the Black Sea. From a maritime safety perspective, the clandestine nature of its operations, including AIS blackouts, increases the likelihood of collisions and accidents, threatening maritime traffic and coastal communities. There is also a security dimension, as the fleet could be leveraged for military purposes, such as transporting equipment or personnel, heightening concerns among NATO members and other global powers.

Efforts to counter the shadow fleet include initiatives by Western nations to disrupt its operations and enforce sanctions more rigorously. However, despite these measures, the fleet continues to operate.