Defence Secretary says the armed forces have shown their “commitment to protecting national security” after fighters scrambled to shadow two Russian aircrafts and submarine nearing UK waters. The Royal Navy has shadowed a Russian attack submarine and corvette through the English Channel while RAF jets were scrambled to monitor two of Vladimir Putin’s aircraft.In the past week Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke monitored the progress of Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and a supporting tug as it passed through the Dover Strait before a similar operation to shadow the corvette Stoiky and a tanker.Patrol ship HMS Tyne was also involved in the operation to monitor the Stoiky.
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00:00The Defence Secretary says the armed forces have shown their commitment to protecting
00:06national security after fighters scrambled to shadow two Russian aircrafts and a submarine
00:13nearing the UK.
00:15In the past week, the RAF used two typhoons to intercept a pair of Russia's Bear F maritime
00:22aircrafts, which came close but did not enter UK sovereign airspace.
00:29And on the seas, the Royal Navy also shadowed a Russian attack submarine.
00:34This was monitored by HMS Iron Duke as it travelled through the English Channel.
00:41Although the RAF and Navy are frequently called upon to monitor Russian planes and vessels,
00:47these instances come at a time of heightened tension as a result of the war in Ukraine.
00:53And they came on the eve of the Prime Minister's trip to the US, where he'll be having a
00:58key meeting with President Joe Biden and support for Ukraine will be a topic that
01:03will be discussed.
01:04Both the UK and US have faced calls from Ukraine to give permission to allow them to use long
01:11range weapons against Russia.
01:14But Russia's president, however, has warned that if this happens, he'll consider it an
01:19escalation from NATO and the West entering the war.
01:24In response to that, Keir Starmer has remained defiant, saying that Russia started this war
01:30and they could end it just as quickly.
01:33It comes as Russia has today revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats working in the country,
01:40accusing them of spying.