Russia sends warship through the English Channel
By PERKIN AMALARAJ
Published: 09:21 GMT, 5 March 2025 | Updated: 13:00 GMT, 5 March 2025
A Russian warship has been spotted escorting a sanctioned cargo ship crewed by men in military fatigues through the English Channel.
The Boikiy, a 343ft-long Russian corvette that can carry up to 99 men at a time, was seen escorting the Baltic Leader, a large cargo ship sanctioned by the US in 2022 for transporting weapons for Russia, in the early hours of Monday, according to The Times.
Armed personnel were seen manning machine guns on the warship as it passed through the south of the English Channel, the newspaper reported.
The Baltic Leader was carrying a shipment of military hardware from a Russian base in Tartus, Syria, where Kremlin operations are being wound down in the wake of the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad.
James Droxford, of the intelligence consultancy Droxford Maritime, said: 'The recovered military hardware onboard Baltic Leader could be used to reinforce Russia's combat capability in Ukraine, or to replenish military stocks in other key Russian military regions.'
The Boikiy's escort mission began at 5am on March 3, south of Torquay.
The convoy slowly travelled across the English Channel, before it was followed by two vessels, HMS Somerset from the Royal Navy and Belgian Navy vessel BNS Crocus.
The Baltic Leader was then seen leaving the English Channel on March 4 at 2pm.