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| Royal Navy sends ships to shadow Russian fleet passing Britain | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fleet of Russian warships is heading towards the Mediterranean on a route past the British Isles in what is believed to be the country’s largest naval deployment since the cold war. | A fleet of Russian warships is heading towards the Mediterranean on a route past the British Isles in what is believed to be the country’s largest naval deployment since the cold war. |
| An MoD spokesman said: “When these ships near our waters we will man-mark them every step of the way. We will be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe.” | An MoD spokesman said: “When these ships near our waters we will man-mark them every step of the way. We will be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe.” |
| It is not clear if the fleet will pass via the North Sea and the Channel or west of Ireland. It includes the aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov, which is reported to be carrying fighter bombers and is accompanied by several other Russian vessels. | It is not clear if the fleet will pass via the North Sea and the Channel or west of Ireland. It includes the aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov, which is reported to be carrying fighter bombers and is accompanied by several other Russian vessels. |
| The convoy was photographed by the Norwegian military as it journeyed through nearby international waters on its way to Syria where it is thought they will participate in a final assault on the besieged city of Aleppo. | The convoy was photographed by the Norwegian military as it journeyed through nearby international waters on its way to Syria where it is thought they will participate in a final assault on the besieged city of Aleppo. |
| The Ministry of Defence said a destroyer, HMS Duncan, had been dispatched from Portsmouth to join the HMS Richmond in escorting the group on its voyage south. It also revealed that HMS Dragon, also a destroyer, was due to meet two Russian corvettes that were travelling north towards Britain from Portugal. | The Ministry of Defence said a destroyer, HMS Duncan, had been dispatched from Portsmouth to join the HMS Richmond in escorting the group on its voyage south. It also revealed that HMS Dragon, also a destroyer, was due to meet two Russian corvettes that were travelling north towards Britain from Portugal. |
| The Admiral Kuznetsov is Russia’s only aircraft carrier but is capable of hosting more than 50 aircraft and is equipped with Granit anti-ship cruise missiles. | The Admiral Kuznetsov is Russia’s only aircraft carrier but is capable of hosting more than 50 aircraft and is equipped with Granit anti-ship cruise missiles. |
| Photos released by the Norwegian navy, taken on Monday off its coast near Andoya Island, show that the aircraft carrier was accompanied by a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, Peter the Great. | Photos released by the Norwegian navy, taken on Monday off its coast near Andoya Island, show that the aircraft carrier was accompanied by a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, Peter the Great. |
| Two anti-submarine warships, the Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov, were also present, alongside four support vessels. Russia has a naval base in Arkhangelsk, east of Norway’s northernmost point. A Norwegian newspaper, VG, quoted General Morten Haga Lunde, head of Norway’s military intelligence service, as saying the eight ships involved “will probably play a role in the deciding battle for Aleppo”. | Two anti-submarine warships, the Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov, were also present, alongside four support vessels. Russia has a naval base in Arkhangelsk, east of Norway’s northernmost point. A Norwegian newspaper, VG, quoted General Morten Haga Lunde, head of Norway’s military intelligence service, as saying the eight ships involved “will probably play a role in the deciding battle for Aleppo”. |
| A senior Nato diplomat said that the Russians were assembling their largest naval deployment in decades with 10 ships already based off the Syrian coast. Citing western intelligence and speaking on the condition of anonymity, he told Reuters: “They are deploying all of the northern fleet and much of the Baltic fleet in the largest surface deployment since the end of the cold war. This is not a friendly port call. In two weeks we will see a crescendo of air attacks on Aleppo as part of Russia’s strategy to declare victory there.” | A senior Nato diplomat said that the Russians were assembling their largest naval deployment in decades with 10 ships already based off the Syrian coast. Citing western intelligence and speaking on the condition of anonymity, he told Reuters: “They are deploying all of the northern fleet and much of the Baltic fleet in the largest surface deployment since the end of the cold war. This is not a friendly port call. In two weeks we will see a crescendo of air attacks on Aleppo as part of Russia’s strategy to declare victory there.” |
| Vice-Admiral Clive Johnstone, the UK commander of Nato’s Allied Maritime Command, said allied nations routinely monitored “activities of interest” which includes the presence of Russian vessels close to national waters. “This is in the interest of supporting our overall maritime awareness and safety of navigation in sea lanes of communication.” | Vice-Admiral Clive Johnstone, the UK commander of Nato’s Allied Maritime Command, said allied nations routinely monitored “activities of interest” which includes the presence of Russian vessels close to national waters. “This is in the interest of supporting our overall maritime awareness and safety of navigation in sea lanes of communication.” |
| Tass, Russia’s state news agency, said in July, citing a source, that the Admiral Kuznetsov would take part in the Russian operation in Syria from October to January. It said the vessel would carry 15 Su-33 and Mig-29K jet fighters and 31 helicopters. | Tass, Russia’s state news agency, said in July, citing a source, that the Admiral Kuznetsov would take part in the Russian operation in Syria from October to January. It said the vessel would carry 15 Su-33 and Mig-29K jet fighters and 31 helicopters. |
| Norwegian media also reported that Russia had told Norway that the warships were on their way to the Mediterranean where they have supported the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, in his fight against rebel groups. | Norwegian media also reported that Russia had told Norway that the warships were on their way to the Mediterranean where they have supported the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, in his fight against rebel groups. |