As part of routine surveillance and control missions in international waters, the Royal Navy detected the Russian attack submarine Krasnodar while it was sailing through the English Channel. The vessel, belonging to the Russian Navy’s Improved Kilo-class (Project 636.3), was closely monitored by the patrol ship HMS Tyne as part of the United Kingdom’s commitments under NATO’s operational framework. The activity took place in the context of continued Russian naval movements through strategic areas of Europe—a situation that has prompted sustained responses from allied forces to ensure maritime security.
In line with the Royal Navy’s duties to ensure the security and protection of British waters, the River-class patrol ship HMS Tyne intercepted the Russian submarine as it entered the English Channel near the French coast. From that point, a constant monitoring effort was maintained until the submarine exited the UK’s area of responsibility. HMS Tyne was then swiftly reassigned to new tasks, this time shadowing the Russian corvette Boikiy, a Steregushchiy-class vessel, as it moved westward from the Baltic Sea through the Strait of Dover.
It is worth noting that prior to being sighted in the English Channel, the Krasnodar had already been tracked by a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter from the 815 Naval Air Squadron, deployed with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) from HMS Prince of Wales in the Atlantic. Regarding the incident, Defence Secretary Luke Pollard stated: “The Royal Navy has once again demonstrated its readiness to protect UK waters and safeguard the public. Our sailors acted swiftly and decisively in the face of a potential Russian threat, and I pay tribute to their dedication, courage, and professionalism. National security is one of the pillars of the Plan for Change, and we are equipping our Armed Forces with what they need to keep us safe at home and strong abroad.”
The presence of Russian vessels near the United Kingdom and their subsequent monitoring has become a common occurrence, so this incident is not considered exceptional. Just two weeks ago, the ships HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey also monitored Russian vessels transiting the English Channel independently. In March, Type 23 frigates and support ships of the Royal Navy tracked the passage of a Russian Navy task group through the same waters. Similar to these episodes, many more incidents throughout 2025 have involved the rapid deployment of ships and aircraft.
As for the presence of the Improved Kilo-class attack submarine Krasnodar (B-265), this is not the first time its movements have raised alerts. Between February and March of this year, the Spanish Navy confirmed its transit through the Strait of Gibraltar en route to the Mediterranean, accompanied by other Russian units. According to various statements from that period, the presence of Russian vessels corresponds to deployments between their home bases—such as Kaliningrad in the Baltic and the Northern Fleet—and various locations in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, other movements have been linked to geopolitical developments, particularly following the regime change in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
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