Heavily armed HMS Argyll monitors Russian Udaloy-class destroyer as it heads through English Channel with tanker and support ship

.HMS Argyle is monitoring a Russian destroyer, tanker and support ship

• .The vessels are travelling through English Channel from Mediterranean
• .The Royal Navy frigate using a helicopter and sensors to track vessels 
• .Comes at a time of heightened tension between the UK and Russia 

By JENNIFER NEWTON FOR MAILONLINE

Heavily armed HMS Argyll is monitoring three Russian ships as they head through the English Channel today, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The Royal Navy is monitoring the Russian Udaloy class destroyer Severomorsk along with a tanker and a support ship as they return from the Mediterranean. 

The Type 23 frigate used a Lynx helicopter and sensors to locate and monitor the movement of the Russian warship and the two other vessels. 

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HMS Argyle, a Type 23 frigate, which is currently monitoring three Russian ships as they head through the English Channel (file picture) 

Earlier reports had suggested the ships were set to carry out military drills in the English Channel but it was confirmed that no exercises were seen. 

The vessels are said to be on their way to conduct anti-aircraft and anti-submarine drills in the north Atlantic. 

HMS Argyle will remain with the three ships as they head east through the Channel and clear UK waters. 

The Ministry of Defence stressed that the encounter was in accordance with international law and the ships are due to leave the Channel later. 

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A map showing the route of the Russian Udaloy class destroyer Severomorsk along with a tanker and a support ship as they return from the Mediterranean towards the North Atlantic 

An MoD spokesperson said: 'As part of her routine business as the Royal Navy's Fleet Ready Escort, HMS Argyll has tracked and monitored three Russian ships making their way east through the English Channel. No exercises have been observed.'  

INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE RUSSIAN MILITARY AND NATO  

April 2014 - A Russian fighter plane makes repeated passes of American warship the USS Cook in the Black Sea. If armed the ship's commander could have targeted the aircraft in self defence  

June 2014 - HMS Montrose was sent to monitor a Russian corvette in international waters near Denmark's Baltic coast. The frigate was then circle by a Russian maritime patrol craft 

October 2014 - RAF Typhoons intercepted a Russian Bear aircraft over the North Sea and Russian warships pass through the Channel escorted by the Navy

October 30, 2014 - 26 Russian bombers, tankers and fighter jets on military exercises are intercepted around Europe in just 24 hours. Jets are scrambled by the RAF and allies in Germany, Portugal and Turkey after the 'unusual' spike in activity, which saw two giant Tu-95 Bear H bombers fly close to Britain 

November 2014 - HMS Argyll monitors a heavily armed Russian warship as it strayed close to the UK while passing through the English Channel and Strait of Dover

January 2015 - Typhoons were dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to intercept two Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear missiles as they flew south of Bournemouth

February 17, 2015 - HMS Argyll intercepts a Neustrashimy-class warship and its accompanying tanker as they headed home after a deployment in the Mediterranean in the English Channel

February 19, 2015 - Two RAF Typhoon jets scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to escort two Russian bombers in international airspace off the coast of Cornwall.

April 2015 - Royal Navy's HMS Argyll monitors Russian Udaloy class destroyer Severomorsk along with a tanker and a support ship as they move through the English Channel.

However, it comes at a time of heightened tension between Britain and Russia, with more than 100 Russian aircraft being over the UK intercepted last year, three times more than during the whole of 2013. 

In February, HMS Argyle intercepted another Russian warship as it as it strayed close to the UK while passing through the English Channel.

Plymouth-based HMS Argyll, which has a crew of 185, intercepted the Neustrashimy-class warship and its accompanying tanker as they headed home after a deployment in the Mediterranean.

On that occasion Yaroslav Mudry and its accompanying tanker, the Kola, were sailing back to Russia after a deployment in the Mediterranean. 

At the time a Lynx helicopter and sensors were also used to locate and monitor the movement of the Russian ships off the coast of France and through the English Channel. 

Then an MoD spokesman estimated that a Russian warship was escorted through the Channel every few months.

Just days later two RAF Typhoon jets were then scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to escort two Russian bombers in international airspace off the coast of Cornwall. 

In January, RAF jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear missiles as they flew south of Bournemouth.

And in November, a four-strong squadron of the country's Northern Fleet sailed through the Channel.

The presence of Russian vessels in the Channel is seen as the latest example of a political message to the West from the Kremlin.

James Nixey, head of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, said the Channel is a 'legitimate shipping lane' but added: 'Equally, these things aren't done by accident.

'Russia is trying to show it has got full spectrum capability warfare.

'It is not a prelude to war but it is a reminder that Russia likes to remind us of - that it is a power to be reckoned with, not a fading power, which might be closer to the reality.

'It can tell us that with a degree of braggadocio.'

The manoeuvres have also raised fears that the Russians are looking for weaknesses in the British naval force.

It comes as Russia has been suspected of military provocation as its economy continues to suffer under international sanctions.

These have been imposed by the West over allegations that Moscow has been providing troops and equipment to separatist rebels in Ukraine.

Experts said Vladimir Putin's move to send planes capable of carrying cruise missiles so close to British shores could be seen as an act of aggression. 

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The Russian navy anti-submarine ship Severomorsk which is being monitored through the English Channel with a tanker and a support ship (file picture)

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Heavily-armed HMS Argyll follows the Russian warship, background left, as it passes through the English Channel in November

However, military sources insisted it was vital the Armed Forces were poised to react swiftly as Russia has stepped up its military drills in recent months with a greater number of naval exercises and reports of incursions by Russian fighter jets and bombers.

The appearance of the Russian ships comes as all branches of the British military take part in large-scale military exercises.

The Nato war games, which started on Saturday and run until April 24, include 'significant naval and aerial activity' off the west and east coasts of Scotland, the Royal Navy has said.

There is also activity taking place at several other locations in the UK.