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Russian Destroyer Enters UK Waters—Royal Navy Responds Under NATO Command
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The Royal Navy has confirmed that HMS Duncan tracked a Russian destroyer through the English Channel in a 48-hour NATO-led operation — marking the first time a British warship has been deployed directly under the alliance’s command for such a mission, UK Defence Journal reported on October 21.
According to the outlet, Portsmouth-based HMS Duncan and a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron were activated by NATO Allied Maritime Command in Northwood to shadow the Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov as it passed through UK waters.
We.Are.Watching. 👀
— NATO Maritime Command (@NATO_MARCOM) October 21, 2025
SNMG1 ship 🇬🇧 HMS Duncan shadowed 🇷🇺 destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov through the English Channel during a 48-hour mission. A Royal Navy Wildcat joined Dutch and French forces to monitor the Russian ship in a strong show of Allied cooperation and readiness in… pic.twitter.com/pn7jNpWwHH
The operation formed part of NATO’s broader maritime security effort across northern Europe, complementing the ongoing work of HMS Somerset in the North Atlantic. The coordinated response included participation from a Dutch Air Force NH90 helicopter and the French Navy.
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that the mission “underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding UK waters and protecting national security through the Plan for Change.”
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said, “The Royal Navy stands ready to respond to any Russian naval activity. They conduct constant monitoring operations to safeguard Britain and our territorial waters.”
He added that deploying under Allied Maritime Command “underpins our unwavering solidarity with NATO to counter Russian activity.”
HMS Duncan’s Commanding Officer, Commander Dan Lee, noted, “This operation highlights the Royal Navy’s commitment to safeguarding UK waters and working seamlessly with our NATO allies to ensure the security of our shared maritime spaces.”
HMS Duncan operates as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), one of the alliance’s principal task forces maintaining a continuous naval presence across northern European waters.
Meanwhile, the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset continues patrols between Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Scotland under Operation Relentless, a mission linked to the protection of the UK’s nuclear deterrent assigned to NATO.
Commander Matt Millyard of HMS Somerset said, “Working as part of SNMG1 over the last few weeks has allowed us to further contribute to NATO’s presence in the region.
Earlier, Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service warned of intensified Russian “gray-zone” activity in the Danish Straits, combining drone incursions and naval maneuvers to test NATO’s readiness.
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