Royal Navy Reports 25 Percent Increase in Russian Activity in U.K., North Atlantic Waters

The Royal Navy tracks Russian Navy frigate RFS Neustrashimy (772) in June 2026, shared Aug. 8, 2026. Royal Navy photo Russian activity around the U.K. and in the North Atlantic has risen 25 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same time frame in 2025, according to the Royal Navy.

The year-on-year data was included in a Saturday news release, with the Royal Navy attributing the increase to Russian Navy warships escorting sanctioned ships in the region. The data fell within Jan. 1-July 31, 2026, and was compared with Jan. 1-July 31, 2025.

In the month of July alone, RN frigate HMS Somerset (F82) and offshore patrol vessels HMS Tyne (P281), HMS Severn (P282) and HMS Mersey (P283) with Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters spent 21 days monitoring the Russian warships and submarines in U.K. waters and the North Atlantic. That marks a 25 percent increase over July of 2025.

The increased activity comes after the U.K. interdicted sanctioned shadow tanker MT Smyrtos in June with Russian Navy frigate RFS Neustrashimy (772) repeatedly transiting the U.K.’s area of responsibility to escort shadow fleet tankers within recognized traffic lanes “using up valuable operational capacity to constantly guard cargo,” the Royal Navy said in a news release at the time.

The U.K. has sanctioned more than 500 vessels since the start of 2026 with Russia’s oil and gas revenues falling by 24 percent year-on-year in 2025, according to the release.

“By disrupting the shadow fleet, the UK and international partners are directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond,” reads the release.

RFA Tideforce (background) monitoring Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich (foreground), released April 5, 2026. Royal Navy photo The U.K. announced in March that its military and law enforcement agencies were authorized to interdict vessels that have been sanctioned by the U.K. and are transiting through U.K. waters. Russia, in response, has used its warships to escort sanctioned Russian-flagged ships when they sail near the U.K.

Tyne was on duty when Neustrashimy conducted gunnery firings on July 20 outside of U.K. and French territorial waters. The offshore patrol vessel moved to five nautical miles as the Russian warship fired her armaments, continuing to gather intelligence during the incident, observing the fall of shots, including around 20 different shots from its main 100mm gun and 30mm battery.

“Through sustained presence and close cooperation with allies, HMS Tyne was ideally suited to this task, providing reassurance and monitoring while enabling other fleet units to continue their operational commitments,” said Lt Cmdr. Sam Fields, commanding officer of Tyne.

The French Armed Forces, in its operational status update for July 30-Aug. 6, said a French Navy offshore patrol vessel was shadowing Neustrashimy in the North Sea during that period and included a surveillance photograph of the frigate.

“This tracking operation is part of the ongoing surveillance of French and European maritime approaches. In close coordination with its allies, France deploys military resources throughout the year to monitor its maritime areas,” the French Armed Forces said.

Frigate Somerset’s tasking was part of its four-month Operation Ceto deployment, the U.K.’s standing mission to protect Britain’s strategic deterrence and monitoring unfriendly submarine and surface activity in the North Atlantic. The Royal Navy rotates its five remaining Type 23 anti-submarine warfare variant frigates, which includes Somerset, for Operation Ceto to detect submarines attempting to shadow the U.K.’s ballistic missile submarines as they leave port to deploy. The anti-submarine warfare frigates also detect unfriendly submarine and surface activity in the North Atlantic, which has become a priority in recent years due to Russia’s increased naval activities.

Yantar, believed to be used by the Russian Navy for intelligence gathering, was shadowed by HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne on Jan. 22, 2025. UK Royal Navy photo The frigate and its embarked Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron returned on Friday to Plymouth, having sailed more than 26,500 nautical miles across the North Atlantic.

“I am immensely proud of every single member of the ship’s company for what we have achieved over the past four months. Whether it’s tracking submarines, working alongside NATO allies and the Carrier Strike Group, or maintaining the ship at exceptionally high readiness for so long, their professionalism and spirit has been outstanding,” Cmdr. Matt Millyard, Somerset’s commanding officer, said in the release.

Offshore patrol vessel Severn was twice activated in July to monitor Russian warships, shadowing Russian Navy frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich (494) as it sailed eastwards from the island of Ushant on the French coast to Dover. The BBC reported that on July 14, Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots from small arms towards a U.K. civilian yacht. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed the civilian yacht was making a dangerous approach to the Russian warship.

Following the shadowing of Admiral Grigorovich, Severn was dispatched for a three-day mission from July 23-26 to intercept and shadow Neustrashimy. Severn took over monitoring duties in the North Sea from Mersey, keeping watch as Neustrashimy escorted shadow fleet tanker MV Vulkan from the Baltic, through the Dover Strait and towards Ushant.

Severn and Mersey then handed over again as Neustrashimy made a westward voyage towards Dover after escorting Vulkan.