Russian ships began to "invade" British waters more and more often. This is reported by the Express edition with reference to new data from the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.
According to the publication, over the past 12 months, the Royal Navy has conducted 116 operations to escort and monitor almost 90 Russian or Russian-related vessels that were allegedly located in the exclusive economic zone of Great Britain. It is noted that in just a year, the British military tracked 61 Russian warships and a submarine, and also escorted 28 merchant vessels suspected of belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" of Moscow.
The publication notes that the growth of Russian activity near the British coast comes amid statements by the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who warned of an almost 30 percent increase in the number of Russian incursions into British waters over the past two years. According to him, the UK actually has an "open maritime border" with Russia in the North Atlantic, which creates additional risks amid rising tensions between Moscow and NATO.
In addition, a source in defense circles said that Russia is "constantly trying to put pressure on the UK and tighten the screws," calling such activity a serious challenge for the Royal Navy.
"The Royal Navy monitors maritime activity around the UK around the clock to protect our waters and vital national infrastructure. As Russian warships operate near our shores, our sailors and flight crews observe and track their every movement," said a spokesman for the British Ministry of Defense.
The ministry also reported that the defense investment plan provides for the allocation of 1.5 billion pounds for the creation of a new hybrid fleet, which will include modern manned ships and unmanned maritime systems to strengthen deterrence of potential threats.
Recall, against the background of accusations against Russia, it is the UK that is following the path of escalation of tension. So, in June, British Marines boarded a ship that is considered part of the Russian "shadow fleet". In addition, two months earlier, the British military, together with its allies, announced the disruption of the Russian operation to explore the critical underwater infrastructure off the coast of the country.