Russian spy ship Viktor Leonov tracked NATO drills off Scotland, UK sends Merlin helicopters

A Russian intelligence ship off Scotland

The British Ministry of Defence said on Monday, 2 November, that the Russian reconnaissance ship Viktor Leonov, a Vishnya-class vessel in NATO terms, had closely monitored NATO warships taking part in the Strike Warrior exercise off Scotland. According to the ministry, the ship moved along the Outer Hebrides between 29 September and 8 October. Royal Navy Merlin helicopters followed its movements during that period. The drill involved about 2,000 personnel from six countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Germany. The ministry described the ship's role as gathering intelligence, and said its crew watched the NATO vessels taking part in the manoeuvres closely.

Helicopters flown from Cornwall

The Royal Navy moved its Merlin helicopters quickly from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall to the Scottish coast, where they began observing the Russian vessel. The Merlin is described as a multi-role helicopter. Captain James Hall, linked to the Culdrose base, said the operation showed that British forces are ready to defend the homeland around the clock, seven days a week. He also said the Merlin force can act at any moment. The ministry presented the deployment as part of wider monitoring of Russian naval activity near areas of strategic importance.

Earlier encounters in the Channel

The ministry also described other encounters with Russian warships. In the first half of October, the destroyer HMS Dauntless and the patrol ship HMS Tyne met the Russian frigate Nieustrashimy in the English Channel. The ministry said that over the previous three months Russia had been forced to use that warship to protect what it called illegal shipments. It added that the United Kingdom plays a leading role in countering Russia's shadow fleet. In mid-October, HMS Tyne also observed the Russian ship Aleksandr Shabalin, which the ministry said was escorting a merchant ship and a tug in the Channel.

Rising activity over the year

Government figures cited in the reporting show that in the first seven months of the year, Royal Navy interventions linked to Russian warship activity in British waters and nearby were a quarter higher than in the same period a year earlier. A Royal Navy report cited in the coverage links the growth in Russian activity over the past year to London's support for Ukraine and to sanctions against the shadow fleet. The same report says the UK keeps focusing on the revenue that funds what it calls Russia's illegal war in Ukraine, while limiting Moscow's ability to threaten European and global security. The Viktor Leonov episode is one of several recent cases the ministry has publicised, and the reports do not describe any direct clash between the ships involved.