For the first time in history: a British destroyer under direct NATO command tracked a Russian ship
23.10.2025 - 11:51
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan and a Wildcat helicopter monitored the Russian ship Vice Admiral Kulakov for 48 hours.
The Russian ship was passing through English waters, the Royal Navy said.
The operation was coordinated by NATO’s Allied Maritime Command in London. It is the first time a British warship has operated directly under the command of the alliance.
HMS Duncan’s surveillance systems tracked the Russian ship’s movement through the North Sea and the English Channel towards the French coast near the island of Ushan.
Forces from other countries also joined the operation: a Dutch NH90 helicopter and ships from the French Navy.
The UK’s Armed Forces Minister Al Carnes said the Royal Navy “stands ready to respond to any activity by Russian naval forces” and that the operation underscores “our unwavering solidarity with NATO.”
USM previously reported that Russian warships have repeatedly resorted to provocations in the Baltic Sea.
