Yaroslav Mudry measures 129m long and is complete with anti-ship missiles, guns and torpedoes. But HMS St Albans, a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate, wasn't far away, having been activated earlier this week and was keeping a close eye on the Russian warship. The frigate is the Royal Navy's very high readiness ship, charged with guarding UK waters.
The vessel is equipped with a Merlin helicopter from Culdrose-based 829 Naval Air Squadron and state-of-the-art radar. Commander John Cromie, the Commanding Officer of HMS St Albans, said: "As the Royal Navy’s high readiness unit in UK waters, we are the first responders to any potential incursion into UK waters and are highly trained in this role.
"Our activation today in response to the passage of a Russian warship close to the UK resulted in a cordial interaction between professional sailors based on the recognised conventions at sea.
"We are always standing ready, as is the rest of the fleet, to defend UK waters and UK sovereignty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
It comes after Moscow was blamed for poisoning former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury with nerve agent Novichok.
It is not the first time that the HMS St Albans has been called in to watch over a Russian warship.
She was dispatched on December 23 to intercept the Admiral Gorshkov as it passed close to UK territorial waters.
At the time, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I will not hesitate in defending our waters or tolerate any form of aggression. (Read More)
