UK Navy Intercepts Russian Corvette, Tanker Amid Rise In Moscow’s Naval Activity

Last Updated:November 24, 2025, 17:50 IST

HMS Severn intercepted Russian ships RFN Stoikiy and Yelnya in the English Channel as UK reports a 30% rise in Russian naval activity, with tensions rising over Yantar’s actions.

A UK patrol ship has intercepted a Russian corvette and tanker, the British Defence Ministry said, adding that the Russian naval activity around UK waters has increased by 30% over the past two years.

CNN quoted the ministry as saying that the patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted the Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya as they sailed through the English Channel.

Britain has stationed ships around its coast, deployed three Poseidon surveillance aircraft to Icelandas part of a NATO mission patrolling for Russian ships and submarines in the North Atlantic and Arctic.

This comes days after Defense Secretary John Healey said the Russian spy ship Yantar had aimed lasers at the pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its activities off the coast of Scotland.

They called the Yantar’s actions as “reckless and dangerous” and said that Britain was ready to respond to any incursions into its territory.

“That Russian action is deeply dangerous,” Healey said. “My message to Russia and to (President Vladimir) Putin is this: ‘We see you, we know what you’re doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.’”

CNN quoted Healey as saying that Russia’s actions would not deter Britain from supporting Ukraine and that the government would continue to be vigilant.

“Just as we have been about incursions into NATO airspace, just as we are being now in terms of identifying the Russian spy ship in UK waters and just as we have continued to be in response to sabotage threats that we have seen across many different European countries as well,” he added.

In response, the Russian Embassy accused the British government of “whipping up militaristic hysteria”. He added that Moscow has no interest in undermining the UK’s security.

“London’s Russophobic course and the whipping up of militaristic hysteria are contributing to the further degradation of European security, creating the conditions for new dangerous situations,” the embassy said.

In past recent months, drones have repeatedly crossed from Russia into NATO’s airspace besides other acts of sabotage.

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