WW3 tensions stoked as Russia strikes extra ships into UK waters
Russia will remain a “country of opportunity” looking to poke at any perceived weaknesses of its rivals with its warship posturing, retired Vice Admiral Duncan Potts told The Mirror
Russia has been warned “we know when you’re coming” following an escalation between a Russian warship and RAF fighter jets.
Defence Secretary John Healey last week confirmed the Russian warship Yantar directed lasers at RAF pilots tracking in an attempt to disrupt monitoring. HMS Severn also intercepted the tanker Yelnya as it travelled through the Dover Straight into the English Channel over the last two weeks. And as tensions continue to rise with NATO countries amid Russia’s apparent forays into nations bordering the Ukraine war zone, an apparent submarine spy probe has been found off the UK coast.
While Russian vessels do travel through international waters and relatively close to the UK, the Yantar incident was viewed as a particular escalation. Speaking to The Mirror, Alexander Lord, lead Europe analyst at strategic advisory firm Sibylline said: “The Yantar incident last week was a much more serious development by contrast, given the use of lasers represented a clear escalation in Russia’s modus operandi and readiness to test the UK’s rules of engagement and boundaries.
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“These sorts of tests are likely to continue as part of Russia’s attempts to deter the UK from increasing its support for Ukraine.” Russian vessels have travelled through the Channel but in recent years the number has risen “markedly” with some estimates indicating a 30 per cent increase of instances in the past two years.
Moscow will have ordered the vessels to sail near UK waters in advance of the so-called peace deal between Russia and Ukraine and will have been undertaken to prove to London that it can deploy where and when it wants. It represents a series of instances where Russia has tested the UK’s resolve such as when Russian military aircraft were intercepted by the RAF earlier this year and last year.
“It’s important for us to demonstrate ‘we know when you’re coming and we know that you’re there,” retired Vice Admiral Duncan Potts told The Mirror.
He said the moves off the UK coast were posturing from Russia against NATO, rather than simply the UK. Likewise, the UK and western allies counter the move by sending signals it is capable of meeting any posturing by Russia. Even as the details of a controversial peace deal for Russia and Ukraine emerge, Ret Vice Admiral Potts added the UK should remain vigilant toward any moves by Moscow.
He said: “I think they (Russia) will remain a country of opportunity, poking at weaknesses among the democracies of the world. Let’s see what the peace looks like, but I think we have seen enough of Russia’s behaviour and investment over the years and we shouldn’t go celebrating too hard because they have definitely got ambitions and strategic capabilities.”
He added remaining vigilant until Russia undergoes a change in stance towards the rest of Europe, although he saw no indication of that at this time. “What we do and our posture is important for the whole of NATO and, to my mind, that’s why we need to maintain this leadership position.
Ret Vice Admiral Potts said the UK had significant capabilities to handle threats but added increased numbers would be beneficial, putting the lower numbers down in part to complacency in the West toward threats in Europe – he did add steps were being taken in a positive direction.
He concluded with stating it was important the UK can signal to Russia: “If they started operating against international law, then we will stand up for the rules-based order, because that’s what we do.”
It was revealed tosay that a suspected Russian spy device was found off the UK coast by a group of litter pickers. Divers from Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) found the suspicious object while diving and collecting rubbish in the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone, in Pembrokeshire. The team initially believed the device was a navigational marker and later believed it to be a sonobuoy – an acoustic monitoring device that typically is used to locate submarines.
