London: The UK Royal Navy shadowed Russian vessels while the Royal Air Force (RAF) intercepted two Russian aircraft, the UK Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Moscow has said more than once that all flights by Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft are carried out in strict compliance with international airspace regulations.
“HMS Iron Duke and HMS Tyne shadowed four Russian vessels in UK waters and RAF jets intercepted a Russian Bear aircraft approaching the UK area of interest,” the ministry said.
It said two RAF Typhoons scrambled, supported by a Voyager, to intercept two Russian Bear-F aircraft operating near the UK.
“The RAF jets were launched under NATO command and worked closely with our partners to monitor the aircraft as they passed through international airspace. Our Typhoon fighters escorted the aircraft out of the UK’s Flight Information Region and at no time did the Russian aircraft enter UK sovereign airspace,” the ministry said.
It also said that in a six-day operation with NATO allies, the Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke shadowed Russia’s Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its supporting tug Evgeny Churov through the Dover Strait and into the Atlantic
