A Russian frigate has been escorting tankers off the coast of the UK for almost two months
The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, has been in waters off the coast of England for almost two months without any intervention from the Royal Navy.
The ship was also spotted near the Galloper wind farm off the coast of Suffolk.
In April, The Telegraph reported that the Admiral Grigorovich had escorted tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet across the English Channel, despite promises by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step up the fight against the illegal trade in Russian fuel.
Since then, the frigate has escorted more than ten tankers through waters near the UK.
In March, Keir Starmer stated that the UK would take an “even tougher” stance towards Russian vessels. However, since then, the Royal Navy has not carried out any interceptions, even though some of the Admiral Grigorovich’s routes passed through British territorial waters.
Previously, sources within the UK government reported that attempts to detain Russian tankers escorted by a warship could create operational and legal difficulties. Among the reasons cited were the possibility of crew members seeking asylum, as well as the risk of a maritime collision with an armed frigate.
Despite international sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to derive a significant portion of its foreign revenue from oil and gas exports.
Petroleum products are transported through international waters by vessels of the so-called shadow fleet. Some of these tankers are subject to sanctions, and information about their ownership is often concealed.
According to the publication, due to a shortage of military vessels, some of the monitoring work was carried out by civilian sailors on auxiliary vessels.
The presence of the “Admiral Grigorovich” approximately 30 miles off the coast of Suffolk was also confirmed by the publication iPaper. A Kremlin support vessel was accompanying the frigate.
It is reported that inflatable fenders were spotted near the offshore wind farm, which could have been used to refuel the frigate at sea.
The reasons for the Russian ships’ interest in the Galloper have not been officially stated. The wind farm supplies electricity to around 400,000 homes. Previously, the presence of Russian vessels in this area had already prompted a NATO monitoring mission involving a Dutch Navy patrol vessel.
The Royal Navy stated that throughout April, they monitored the Admiral Grigorovich on a daily basis using the patrol ships HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn, as well as the tanker Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters.
During this time, according to the British military, the frigate escorted six merchant and support vessels and one submarine.
In April, UK Defence Secretary John Giley announced a joint operation to monitor Russian submarines in waters north of Scotland. At that time, three Russian vessels were spotted near critical infrastructure subsea cables.
According to Giley, following surveillance by the UK, Norway and allies, the Russian submarines left the area.
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that claims of a lack of response are untrue.
“The Royal Navy constantly monitors and tracks Russian military vessels near British waters, using ships, aircraft and coordination with NATO to maintain constant vigilance and protect national security,” a ministry spokesperson said.
