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Royal British Navy Shadows Russian Corvette and Tanker During English Channel Transit.
The Royal British Navy confirmed it monitored a Russian corvette and naval tanker transiting the English Channel on 23 January 2026 using surface ships and aircraft. The operation highlights the United Kingdom’s ongoing focus on maritime security amid heightened NATO attention on Russian naval movements near Europe.
On 23 January 2026, the Royal British Navy confirmed it had deployed a mix of surface vessels and maritime aviation assets to closely monitor the transit of Russian naval and auxiliary ships through the English Channel, one of the busiest and most strategically sensitive waterways in the world. The two-day operation, coordinated with NATO allies, was described as a routine maritime security activity and reflects the United Kingdom’s standing practice of tracking foreign military movements near its waters, with details released by the Royal Navy the same day.
Royal British Navy ships and aircraft shadowed a Russian corvette and support tanker through the crowded English Channel in a two-day, NATO-coordinated monitoring operation confirmed on 23 January 2026 (Picture Source: Royal British Navy)
According to the official statement, the Portsmouth-based offshore patrol vessels HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were tasked with shadowing the Russian corvette Boikiy and the tanker MT General Skobelev as they transited the Channel en route to the North Sea after operating in the Mediterranean. Both vessels are River-class offshore patrol ships, designed primarily for maritime security, surveillance, and presence missions in UK waters and surrounding approaches. Their roles include monitoring surface traffic, gathering information, and responding to a wide range of security tasks, from defence engagement to support for allied operations. Further, a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron provided airborne support, contributing surveillance and situational awareness throughout the operation. The Wildcat is a multi-role maritime helicopter equipped with radar, electro-optical sensors, and secure communications, enabling it to extend the reach of surface ships and provide a comprehensive recognised maritime picture.
HMS Mersey initially took responsibility for monitoring the Russian vessels as they entered the English Channel, following a handover from NATO allies who had tracked the group during its earlier movement through the Bay of Biscay. As the transit continued eastward, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn operated in succession to maintain continuous observation, ensuring that the vessels’ movements were monitored and reported in real time. Operating together with the embarked helicopter, the ships were able to combine surface-based sensors with airborne surveillance to maintain persistent coverage across a congested maritime environment.
The Royal Navy stated that HMS Severn continued shadowing duties as the Russian ships entered the North Sea, before responsibility was transferred to another NATO ally as part of established allied maritime coordination procedures. The operation was conducted in accordance with international maritime law, with the stated objective of maintaining awareness of foreign naval activity in UK and allied waters. Such tasking reflects the core function of offshore patrol vessels within the Royal Navy’s force structure, providing continuous presence and reassurance while freeing higher-end combatants for other commitments.
The update also referenced a separate maritime security operation in the Strait of Gibraltar, where patrol boat HMS Dagger from the Gibraltar Squadron monitored the tanker Grinch during its transit. The vessel was subsequently boarded by French authorities while under surveillance, as reported by Army Recognition Group. HMS Dagger is a fast patrol craft tasked with force protection, maritime security, and surveillance duties in the strategically important waters surrounding Gibraltar. The Royal Navy described Grinch as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and noted that information gathered during such operations is routinely shared with international partners.
According to the Royal Navy, these operations illustrate the routine employment of surface and air assets to maintain awareness of foreign naval activity along key maritime routes. By combining offshore patrol vessels, embarked aviation, and allied coordination, the United Kingdom sustains continuous monitoring of naval movements from the Atlantic approaches through the English Channel and into northern European waters. Such missions form a standing component of maritime security activity, ensuring that transiting vessels are observed, reported, and handed over seamlessly between national and allied forces in accordance with international maritime law.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.