British warship monitors Russian fleet through Channel

[aziqbal]

British warship monitors Russian fleet through Channel​

By
George Allison
-
February 2, 2022

HMS Argyll has monitored Russian vessels passing through the English Channel on their way to exercises outside of Irish waters.​

A Royal Navy spokesperson said:
“As part of a unified response with our allies, the Royal Navy monitor the presence of Russian naval ships as they transit through the English Channel.”
The French military tweeted:
“On 01/30, the high-seas patrol vessel Commander Blaison accompanied 2 frigates the Soobrazitelniy and the Stoykiy in the approaches. He then handed over to the frigate Argyll and the destroyer Roosevelt.”

What’s happening?​

Russia is holding ‘live-fire’ naval exercises between February 3rd-8th off the Irish coast. Originally, the exercises were to be held 240km (150 miles) off southwestern Ireland – in international waters but within Ireland’s exclusive economic zone. The tweet below shows the original location.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney last week objected to the exercise:

“This isn’t a time to increase military activity and tension in the context of what’s happening with and in Ukraine. The fact that they are choosing to do it on the western borders, if you like, of the EU, off the Irish coast, is something that in our view is simply not welcome.”

Russia’s embassy in Ireland on Saturday posted on Facebook saying the exercises would be relocated outside of the Irish economic zone “with the aim not to hinder fishing activities”.