The Telegraph: Russian frigate makes bold passage through English Channel

The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich from the Black Sea Fleet escorted two sanctioned tankers through the English Channel on the morning of April 8.

The frigate accompanied the tankers Universal and Enigma, which were trailed by the British auxiliary vessel RFA Tideforce, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Telegraph.

The article describes it as an open challenge to the British government and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The Universal, which departed the Russian port of Vysotsk on January 18, is under British sanctions for attempting to “destabilise Ukraine” through oil exports.

The Cameroon-registered Enigma left Primorsk on March 29 and has been under sanctions since May of last year for the same reason.

Experts estimate that Russia’s “shadow fleet” consists of around 700 vessels transporting roughly 40% of Russian oil, with 544 of these ships subject to UK sanctions.

Last month, Starmer authorised special forces to intercept shadow fleet tankers in British waters, but no Russian ships have been seized so far.

The British opposition has criticised the government for delays in defence investment and insufficient naval and military readiness.

The Admiral Grigorovich, a 3,620-ton vessel armed with anti-ship, cruise, and surface-to-air missiles, provided a prominent display of Russian military power as it escorted the tankers, while the British fleet observed from a safe distance, the report notes.

Russia has threatened retaliation.

Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin warned that any interception of the tankers by London would not go unanswered.

The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment on ongoing operations.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov