Russian warship seen resupplying off Essex coast

The Royal Navy monitored a Russian resupply operation off the Essex coast involving the frigate Admiral Grigorovich and a supply vessel, PM-82. The activity, described by HMS Tyne, involved a “raft-up” near the Galloper Wind Farm close to Harwich while the warships moved through UK waters. The operation took place during a three-month period of heightened Russian naval activity, when UK forces maintained what they said was an “unbroken watch” on the ships and support vessels. Patrol ships HMS Tyne, Ledbury, Severn, Mersey and the Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland tracked the Admiral Grigorovich through May and into June, following daily monitoring efforts in April. Royal Navy personnel boarded the tanker MV Smyrtos on June 14, two days before the Admiral Grigorovich fired a warning shot at the British yacht Bright Future south of the Isle of Wight. The Royal Navy said HMS Somerset also intercepted the Yury Ivanov during the same period.