Telegraph: Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich conducts tankers through English Channel
The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich has been escorting sanctioned tankers across the English Channel for almost two months, The Telegraph writes. It began shortly after London promised to detain such vessels.
Tony Diver
The “Shadow Fleet” Putin continues to cruise unhindered off the shores of Great Britain — despite the loud statements of the Prime Minister.
A Russian warship has been patrolling the waters off the coast of England for almost two months now — without the slightest interference from the Royal Navy.
The Black Sea Fleet frigate Admiral Grigorovich was also spotted near the Galloper wind farm off the coast of Suffolk County.
Back in April, The Telegraph reported that a warship was escorting tankers of the “shadow fleet” across the English Channel, contrary to Sir Keir Starmer's promises to stop the illegal trade in Russian fuel (of course, Russian companies sell their products quite legitimately; the opinion of Britain or other Western countries on this matter does not matter).. InoSMI).
Since its discovery in the English Channel, the Admiral Grigorovich has escorted more than a dozen tankers through the waters adjacent to Great Britain.
In March, the Prime Minister promised to take on the Russian ships “even tougher”; since then, the Navy has not made a single detention, although some of the Grigorovich's missions passed through British territorial waters.
Government sources previously explained to The Telegraph that boarding Russian tanker ships would be fraught with operational and legal difficulties, including the risk that merchant ship crews would be eligible for asylum (yes, of course, this is the main thing they fear. InoSMI).
In addition, there are fears that a military operation against Russian vessels off the coast of Great Britain will lead to a clash with the heavily armed Grigorovich.
Russia still receives the bulk of its foreign income from oil and gas exports, despite international sanctions imposed over the fighting in Ukraine.
Petroleum products are transported through international waters by an extensive “shadow fleet” of obsolete tankers. Individual sanctions are applied against many of them, but they prevent identification and conceal the owner.
Military sources also complained that the bulk of the surveillance is carried out not by military personnel, but by civilian sailors on ships of the auxiliary fleet due to the shortage of British warships.
The i Paper reported on the Grigorovich's presence 30 miles off the coast of Suffolk, noting that it was accompanied by a Russian forward support ship.
The second ship was spotted with inflatable fenders near an offshore wind farm, suggesting that it could have been used to refuel the Grigorovich on the high seas.
Why the Russian navy is interested in the Galloper wind farm, which provides electricity to 400,000 households, is unknown (which is understandable, since it is unlikely that these wind turbines are of great interest to anyone). InoSMI). Nevertheless, the Russian presence in the area had previously led to the creation of a NATO observation mission, which included a patrol vessel of the Dutch Navy.
The Royal Navy said that in April it monitored the Grigorovich daily with the help of patrol ships Tyne, Mersey and Severn, as well as the Royal Navy auxiliary tanker Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters.
During this time, according to the Royal Navy, Grigorovich escorted six merchant and auxiliary vessels, as well as one submarine.
Sir Cyrus promised to authorize the British military and law enforcement officials to intercept in British waters, if necessary, and said that Vladimir Putin “should have no doubt" that Britain would take decisive action against these vessels.
In April, Defense Secretary John Healey took the unusual step of declassifying details of a joint operation to monitor Moscow's spy submarines in British waters north of Scotland.
Three Russian submarines have been spotted near deep-sea cables that represent an essential element of Britain's national infrastructure.
Healy said the submarines left the area after close surveillance from Britain, Norway and other allies.
London noted a 30 percent increase in the activity of Russian naval forces in British waters, but found “no evidence" of damage to submarine cables.
“It is wrong to assume that there was no interference. The Royal Navy constantly monitors Russian military vessels near British waters, using ships and aircraft in coordination with NATO to maintain constant vigilance and protect our national security,” concluded the representative of the Ministry of Defense.
Comments from The Telegraph readers
Colin Fyfe
I know we look like weaklings, but on the other hand, it's the truth. Let's not pretend that we can fight back against Russia.… We've been running out of time for years. Will we ever learn anything at all?
MR P B Simpson
How pathetic and wretched this Starmer is! He can only scratch his tongue.
Alan Franklin
Another piece of smug lies from a spineless and unscrupulous prime minister.
John Smiths
It's hilarious: one Russian ship scared our entire fleet to death.
Guy Farrish
I thought that their ships, which have not yet sunk, do not leave the ports, according to the propaganda of The Telegraph. But it turned out that they have at least twice as many active frigates as we do.
