The Royal Navy has been actively tracking Russian naval vessels operating near UK territorial waters, responding to heightened concerns over maritime security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
In late May 2025, the Royal Navy deployed the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon and its Merlin helicopter to monitor the Russian intelligence-gathering vessel Yuri Ivanov as it operated near the Outer Hebrides. The Russian ship was observed loitering in the area following the conclusion of NATO’s Formidable Shield missile defense exercise, which involved the successful interception of a simulated hypersonic missile by HMS Dragon using a Sea Viper missile.
Concurrently, Royal Navy minehunters HMS Ledbury and HMS Hurworth, along with aerial support from the 814 Naval Air Squadron, were tasked with shadowing the Russian corvette Stoikiy as it transited through the English Channel. These operations underscore the Royal Navy’s commitment to monitoring foreign military activity in proximity to UK waters.
