A fleet of Russian warships believed to be heading to Syria is sailing through the English Channel this morning, shadowed by the Royal Navy.
The Soviet-era aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which can carry more than 50 planes, crossed international waters in the North Sea with seven other vessels including a nuclear powered Kirov Class Battlecruiser.
If it maintains its current speed, the flotilla should enter the Channel before noon, The Independent has been told – and a Russian tug boat in convoy with the ships has been seen off the Kent coast, according to the BBC.
The Ministry of Defence said it had dispatched Royal Navy ships to escort the vessels and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon suggested the taskforce was designed to “test” the British naval response.
“It's being marked every step of the way by the Royal Navy and ships and planes of other Nato members as well,” he said.
“It's clearly designed […] to test our response, and any weaknesses in the alliance, and we must make sure we respond in due measure.”
British warship HMS Richmond escorted the group from the Norwegian Sea as it steamed south and Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan sailed from Portsmouth on Tuesday to “man-mark” the Kuznetsov group.
“We will be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe,” said Sir Fallon in a statement.
The fleet set off from Russia on 15 October and is thought to be sent to reinforce the attack on the besieged city of Aleppo in Syria.
Yesterday, just hours before the warships were due to pass through British water, Theresa May launched a scathing attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Prime Minister accused the Russian military of “sickening atrocities” in Aleppo and highlighted the “appalling” acts which have occurred during a sustained Russian bombing campaign in the northern Syrian city.
Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, have agreed a temporary humanitarian truce in Aleppo but Ms May urged European leaders to take a firm line against Moscow.
Arriving at her first Brussels summit as PM, Ms May called for a “robust and united European stance in the face of Russian aggression”.
She said: “It is vital that we work together to continue to put pressure on Russia to stop these appalling atrocities, these sickening atrocities, in Syria.”
A Nato official said Russia had the right to operate in international waters, and there were plans for Nato navies to monitor the ships as they head for the Mediterranean.
“The deployment of the carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean does not inspire confidence that Russia is working towards a political solution to the conflict in Syria,” they said.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said in September that the Admiral Kuznetsov-led fleet would be joining a taskforce in the Mediterranean.
According to the Russian news agency Tass, he told a defence board meeting that the plan was to bolster the exisiting Mediterranean fleet's “combat capabilities”.
