Russia ‘monitoring’ Royal Navy vessel in Black Sea

In a sign the crisis on Ukraine’s border with Russia has not fully abated, the Russian navy has reported it is closely monitoring a British Royal Navy vessel in the Black Sea.

The Royal Navy’s HMS Trent patrol vessel reportedly entered Black Sea waters only today (May 16).

According to the Russian Defense Ministry’s National Defense Management Center, the country’s Black Sea Fleet has been tasked with tracking HMS Trent for the duration of its unwelcome stay in the Black Sea.

The Russian Defense Ministry has issued the following statement: “The forces and means of the Black Sea Fleet have started tracking the activities of the Trent patrol vessel of the British Navy, which entered the Black Sea waters on May 16”.

Just five days ago Russia’s Black Sea Fleet started tracking the French navy’s patrol ship Commandant Birot, which similar to the Royal Navy’s vessel entered the Black Sea in an ostensible show of solidarity with Nato-aligned Ukraine.

On April 18 it was reported that the Royal Navy was planning to send “warships” to the Black Sea as a response to rising border tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

It is not clear at this stage if more Royal Navy vessels will follow HMS Trent in entering Black Sea waters with a view to testing Russia’s resolve.