Royal Navy warship scrambled to track Russian task group

The Royal Navy scrambled a warship to monitor and follow a Russian naval task group as they sail through British territorial waters.

HMS Defender was deployed over the weekend to watch the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, and three auxiliary ships.

A spokesman for the Navy said, “Portsmouth-based Defender is monitoring the Russian task group and keeping track of their activity in areas of national interest.”

The Royal Navy’s HMS Defender left Newcastle on Saturday and travelled to north east Scotland, to meet the Russian task group.

Mark Lancaster, the armed forces minister said, “The Royal Navy is always standing ready to defend the UK.

“We will continue to work with our allies to shadow Russian ships passing through international waters close to our shores, to ensure the Russian navy follows the correct protocol on its journey.”

Commander Richard Hewitt, the commanding officer of HMS Defender said, “The security of the seas around our coastline remains crucial to our national interests.

“Escorting the Admiral Gorshkov has demonstrated the Royal Navy’s enduring commitment to protecting our home waters and readiness to undertake such tasking whenever it’s required.”