Armed ship: Russian warship spotted near the French coast

The Russian destroyer Severomorsk along with three other ships were seen in the English Channel, on the night of the 15th to 16th March.

It was the Belgian patrol vessel BNS Castor that spotted the 4 ships in the waters of the English Channel, heading towards the North Sea.

According to initial information, it appears to be the Russian destroyer Severomorsk, the amphibious landing ship Alexander Shabalin and two cargo ships, the MV Sparta and the MV Siyanie Severa, reports the media outlet L’Indépendant. As specified by The Sun, these ships were reportedly armed.

The vessels were reportedly part of a fleet that left Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. After leaving, they were then spotted in the English Channel, heading towards the North Sea, on their way to the Baltic Sea.

Increased surveillance

According to the Royal Navy, this is the "third passage of its kind in the last six weeks as Russia increases its activity in British waters," adding that they had "deployed powerful sensors and launched Merlin and Wildcat helicopters to monitor each movement". To prevent any acts of Russian sabotage, the British stated they had mobilised the tanker RFA Tidesurge and the minesweeper HMS Cattistock. Once the ships left English waters, BNS Castor took over.

The Russian destroyer Severomorsk can carry more than 100 torpedoes and missiles as well as two helicopters.

(MH with Manon Pierre - Source: L’Indépendant - Illustration: ©Unsplash)