Russian warship escorted by Royal Navy frigate through English Channel

Another Russian warship has been escorted through the English Channel by the Royal Navy during continued tensions between Moscow and London.

The Yaroslav Mudry, a frigate from the Baltic Fleet, sailed through the narrow passage returning to its home port just days after a Russian destroyer passed through.

Neither ship is believed to have entered British territorial waters but fell within the UK’s “area of interest” while being monitored by Nato states on its journey.

It arrived two months after Russia was accused of “posturing” by sailing a fleet of ships headed by the Admiral Kuznetzov destroyer through the Channel on their way to Syria.

Vladimir Putin’s support for Bashar al-Assad in the country’s civil war has worsened tensions with the West, which were already damaged by Russia’s alleged intervention in the Ukrainian conflict and the annexation of Crimea.

The EU has extended sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, as Nato continues to raise concern about military deployments and exercises near members’ borders.

The HMS Sutherland, a British frigate, and a Merlin helicopter monitored the Yaroslav Mudry from when it entered the English Channel.

The Royal Navy said the Neustrashimy-class frigate has recently been operating in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean before sailing across to the Caribbean to visit Cuba and Trinidad.

It had a close encounter with American naval ships in the Mediterranean in June. Russia and the US blamed each other for the incident.

The Russian Defence Ministry said a US destroyer made a dangerous approach as the Yaroslav Mudry was cruising steadily, but a US official said the Russian warship had carried out “unsafe and unprofessional” manoeuvres crossing the American vessel’s stern and refusing to maintain a safe distance.

The Royal Navy said French and Dutch warships were also following the Yaroslav Mudry, which will be monitored by Nato members as its journey continued.

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Commander Trish Kohn, Commanding Officer of HMS Sutherland, said: “This is just one example of the many activities undertaken by the Royal Navy in safeguarding the United Kingdom’s waters.“

The HMS Sutherland previously monitored the Vice Admiral Kulakov, a Russian destroyer, as it returned to Russia from the Eastern Mediterranean earlier this month.

Sailors remain at a “respectful distance”, the Navy said, keeping watch using binoculars and using radar to track course and speed.

The same tactics were used on its departure with the fleet headed by the Admiral Kuznetzov in October, which was loaded with fighter jets, reconnaissance and combat helicopters and cruise missiles bound for Syria.

Britain was among Nato members voicing opposition to the deployment and the expected use of the weapons to attack rebel areas of Aleppo, which have now been defeated after an assault seeing Syria and its allies accused of war crimes.

Boris Johnson has summoned Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office to tell him Moscow deserves no credit for the evacuation of civilians from the shattered Syrian city.

The Foreign Secretary expressed ”deep concern“ at reports of civilians being executed, ambulances being shot at and ”disappearances“ carried out by pro-Assad forces former opposition districts of Aleppo.