A Russian cargo ship anchored in the Bristol Channel was ordered to leave UK waters after being monitored by British authorities.
Russian Cargo Ship Spotted in Bristol Channel
The Russian cargo ship Sinegorsk anchored for 14 hours in the Bristol Channel near Minehead in Somerset, as reported by The Independent. The Independent noted that important submarine cables connecting the UK with the USA, Canada, Spain and Portugal are located near this area. The ship was monitored by a coastguard unit and a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter crew. British authorities ordered the Russians to leave UK waters. The last recorded port of Sinegorsk was Arkhangelsk in Russia.
British Government Statement on Russian Threat
The UK Ministry of Defence emphasized that there is a threat from Russia, which is trying to map key submarine infrastructure. This incident is another example of a Russian “shadow fleet” unit appearing in UK waters. The authorities reported a 30% increase in Russian activity over the past two years.
Previous Russian Ship Sighting in English Channel
Last week, on January 23, the British navy observed a Russian navy ship “Boyky” and tanker “General Skobelew” in the English Channel. The British dispatched two patrol units and a Wildcat helicopter to track them. A NATO ally took over the operation of tracking the vessels moving north. The actions were carried out for two days.
UK Naval Operations Against Russian Threats
Earlier, the British supported a French operation to seize a sanctioned Russian tanker passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. The British navy regularly conducts patrols to detect any threats to the country’s security.
