The Royal Navy has increased its monitoring of Russian military activity in UK waters and the North Atlantic, with maritime operations tracking Russian vessels rising by 25 per cent in the first seven months of 2026.
The UK Ministry of Defence disclosed the figure on Saturday, saying Royal Navy warships and helicopters spent 21 days conducting operations against increased Russian activity throughout July.
Four vessels — HMS Somerset, HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn — were deployed during the month, supported by Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin submarine-hunting aircraft.
The operations involved monitoring Russian warships and submarines, including vessels operating alongside tankers linked by the British government to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
The latest activity comes amid a wider UK effort to disrupt the maritime network used to transport Russian oil and sustain Moscow’s war economy.
British forces in June intercepted and boarded the sanctioned oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel in the first UK-led operation of its kind. The UK has sanctioned more than 500 shadow fleet vessels as part of efforts to restrict revenue supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence said Russian frigate RFN Neustrashimy had repeatedly passed through the UK’s area of responsibility while escorting shadow fleet tankers, placing additional demands on British naval resources.
On July 20, Portsmouth-based HMS Tyne monitored Neustrashimy as the Russian frigate conducted gunnery exercises outside UK and French territorial waters.
The British vessel moved to within five nautical miles of the Russian warship while gathering intelligence on the exercise.
The Russian frigate fired about 20 rounds from its main 100mm gun, alongside additional rounds from its 30mm battery, according to the British Ministry of Defence.
HMS Tyne commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields, said the ship’s sustained presence and cooperation with allies enabled it to monitor the Russian vessel while allowing other Royal Navy units to continue their operational commitments.
HMS Somerset, a Type 23 frigate, also completed a four-month North Atlantic deployment focused on surface and underwater activity.
The Plymouth-based warship returned to Britain on Friday after travelling more than 24,000 nautical miles. It operated with underwater sensors and an embarked Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Its commanding officer, Commander Matt Millyard, said the deployment demonstrated the Royal Navy’s role in protecting Britain and its allies.
He said the crew had tracked submarines, worked with NATO allies and the Carrier Strike Group, while maintaining a high state of readiness.
HMS Severn was also activated twice in July to monitor Russian warships.
It first shadowed Russian frigate RFN Admiral Grigorovich as it travelled from the French island of Ushant towards Dover.
Between July 23 and 26, Severn took over monitoring duties from HMS Mersey and shadowed Neustrashimy as the Russian frigate escorted the shadow fleet tanker MV Vulkan from the Baltic Sea through the Dover Strait towards Ushant.
Severn and Mersey later handed over monitoring duties again as Neustrashimy travelled west towards Dover after completing the escort mission.
The British government has increasingly linked its maritime security operations to efforts to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet, which it says helps sustain Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
The stepped-up naval activity also comes as Britain expands its wider maritime defence posture, including plans for at least six new Common Combat Vessels and new programmes aimed at countering Russian activity in the North Atlantic and protecting critical underwater infrastructure.
The increase in monitoring reflects the growing operational demands facing British naval forces as Russian maritime activity, NATO security concerns and the war in Ukraine continue to shape Europe’s defence priorities.
