The UK Armed Forces are on patrol from the English Channel to the High North amid increased Russian activity that is threatening British waters.
In the last two weeks, Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya off the UK coast, in a shadowing operation as the Russian vessels sailed through the Dover Strait and westward through the English Channel.
HMS Severn then handed over monitoring duties to a Nato ally off the coast of Brittany, but it continued to observe from a distance, remaining ready to respond to any unexpected activity.
Commander Grant Dalgleish, HMS Severn's Commanding Officer, said: "This tasking shows the value of our patrol ships and reinforces the Royal Navy's close liaison with our NATO allies in safeguarding the British people and protecting the internationally recognised waterways.
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"I'm immensely proud of the way the ship's company reacted to this activation, especially coming so quickly after a demanding period of regeneration and operational training."
The UK has seen a 30 per cent increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years.
On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary, John Healey, confirmed that Russian spy ship Yantar – used for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables – was operating on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland.
Defence Secretary confirmed that Russian spy ship Yantar was operating on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland.
| GETTYThe navy vessel was even said to have pointed lasers at UK military pilots who were surveilling its activities.
In a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Healey said: "We see you. We know what you are doing. And we are ready."
The UK has a vast and wide range of military options at its disposal to keep nearby waters safe.
Three RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft have deployed to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland in the largest overseas deployment of the RAF P-8 fleet so far.
Three RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft have deployed to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland in the largest overseas deployment of the RAF P-8 fleet so far
|RAF
The P-8s from 120 Squadron are conducting surveillance operations as part of Nato's collective defence, patrolling for Russian ships and submarines in the North Atlantic and Arctic.
RAF crews have been working closely with Nato allies, such as the US and Canada, to reinforce the UK’s Nato-first approach and commitment to Euro-Atlantic security in this new era of threat.
Wing Commander Higgins, Officer Commanding 120 Squadron, said: "This deployment to Iceland highlights the enduring importance of the North Atlantic and Arctic to the security of the Alliance.
“Operating the P-8A Poseidon, we continue that legacy by contributing to NATO's collective defence and ensuring the security of this strategically critical region."
The UK has spent £4billion on boosting drone capabilities, and an additional £1billion on strengthening air and missile defence to protect the British shores.
These latest operations come less than a month after HMS Duncan tracked the movements of Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov, and frigate HMS Iron Duke was dispatched to monitor Russian Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk.
Just last month, two RAF surveillance aircraft embarked on a 12-hour mission along Russia's border in order to monitor Nato's eastern and northern flanks. The aircrafts used advanced sensors to detect Russian activity and deliver intelligence for analysis.
This comes as last week, the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced that the UK, US, and Australia are sanctioning Media Land – a Russian cyber crime group responsible for facilitating cyber-attacks on UK-based companies.
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