Red Alert! 4 Russian warships intercepted in Channel

A ROYAL Navy warship intercepted a Russian task group in the English Channel yesterday as officials warned of an ‘upsurge’ in Vladimir Putin’s vessels sailing close to Britain.

HMS Westminster was dispatched on Friday to keep a ‘watchful eye’ on two Russian warships and two smaller ships.

Last night the Commanding Officer of the British warship warned the English Channel was an ‘absolute lifeline’ for the UK and needed to be protected.

Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster was the third Navy ship to escort Russian vessels near British soil since Christmas Eve. It is protected by a new weapons system that can destroy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds and can defend an area the size of Greater Manchester.

After being dispatched on Friday, she remained at sea before meeting the Russian ships as they passed close to territorial waters in stormy conditions. It was thought the four Russian ships were returning to the Baltic after operations in the Middle East. The UK warship will remain with the two Steregushchiy-class frigates Soobrazitelnyy and Boiky and support vessels Paradoks and Kola as they head north. Commander Simon Kelly, the Commanding Officer of HMS Westminster, said: ‘The English Channel is an absolute lifeline for the UK, and it is very important HMS Westminster and the Royal Navy maintains a watchful eye on this key strategic link.’ The MoD said: ‘The recent festive season has seen an upsurge in Russian units transiting UK waters.’