Russian warships pass South West Coast

A group of Russian warships with nuclear capabilities has passed by the South West coast today as part of a routine transit into the North Atlantic.

Russian news agencies this morning reported that the aircraft-carrying cruiser the Admiral Kuznetsov and the heavy nuclear guided-missile cruiser Petr Velikiy had entered the English channel.

The Russian vessels have been shadowed through their transit by British destroyer, the HMS Dragon, in what the Royal Navy describes as a “well-established and standard response to such events.”

The HMS Dragon was involved in a similar operation last month in which it monitored the Russian destroyer the Admiral Kulakov as it passed by the UK.

Speaking about the operation in April, HMS Dragon’s Commanding Officer, Captain Iain Lower, said: “For a mission like this, it is not about sending any ship, we need speed, we need endurance and, as the weather can be atrocious, sea-keeping is all important.

“The Russian Navy is a very capable force and it is right that the Royal Navy sends a ship that is credible and none are more so than the Type 45 destroyer.

“With the world’s best Air Defence radars, Dragon’s sensors are able to monitor UK airspace and sea lanes of communication at very long range.”

The HMS Dragon was 'activated' on wednesday in order to track the russina vessels.

HMS Dragon is the fourth of six Type 45 destroyers that have entered service in the past five years.

Russian news site, RIA Novosti, reports that the Western Military District’s press service for the Northern Fleet said the Russian ships will soon pass into the North Sea, before proceeding into the northeast Atlantic.

While passing through the Atlantic, the crews of the Admiral Kuznetsov and the Petr Velikiy will carry out joint training exercises with naval aviator.

The Russian vessels are expected to return to base by the end of May.