Image source: topwar.ru
In the beginning of the week three Russian warships appeared in the English channel, off the coast of France. Their passage was watching the French Navy. According to La Depeche, we are talking about the cruiser "Marshal Ustinov" and the destroyer "Vice-Admiral Kulakov" and the tanker Vyazma. These ships crossed the English channel near Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Monday, September 5.
A group of Russian warships was followed by warships of the NATO countries. First, the Russian ships were seen HMS Richmond, then take the baton HNLMS Rotterdam – as soon as the ships are in the area of responsibility of the Netherlands. While the ships were walking along the coast of France, they are followed multipurpose frigate Bretagne and his side Caïman helicopter of the French Navy.
French reporters write that the Russian ships were six months in the Mediterranean sea. Here they were stationed before the start of a special military operation in Ukraine. Then the ships passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, sailed across the Atlantic ocean and appeared off the coast of Ireland. The local website of The Journal wrote about the passage of Russian ships by 30 August. Then the Russian ships left the exclusive economic zone of Ireland and moved to the South-West.
French analysts are concerned about the appearance of the missile cruiser "with a hundred missiles on Board" in the English channel, believe that the transition of the ships is the demonstration of the capabilities of the Navy of Russia to the West against the background of the events in Ukraine. But by the Russian military need to sharpen skills and capabilities in large ocean-going transitions.
French media write that the cruiser "Marshal Ustinov" belongs to the same type of ships that sank in the Black sea cruiser "Moscow". It has a length of 186 m and a width of more than 20 meters. The ship was commissioned in September 1986. He was assigned to the 43rd rocket division of the Northern fleet, the port which is located in Severomorsk. 2017 cruiser "launched" in the Mediterranean sea. His crew is 500 sailors and weapons is impressive: more than 100 rockets and eight guns of different caliber.
