The British Navy raised the alarm. Close to Scotland came the Russian navy
Military flotilla Russia became the reason for raising the British Air Force on alarm. Russian ships approached the coast of Scotland at a distance of 30 miles. The flagship Admiral Kuznetsov approached the British coast, leading a flotilla of Russian ships from the North to the Mediterranean Sea. The ships are sent there for the exercises of the Black Sea Fleet. The Daily Mail (English edition) reports that for the first time in 20 years, Russian military vessels have come so close to the shores of the United Kingdom. The event, which occurred on December 12, on the site of the Royal Navy also found its reflection.To intercept the Russian flotilla came York - the destroyer of the Royal Air Force. The ship traveled a thousand nautical miles from the base in Portsmouth (South coast of England) to the shores of Scotland. His main task was to control the movement of "Kuznetsov". In the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom explained that due to bad weather conditions to use the aircraft for this task turned out to be impossible.
It should be noted that the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrying cruiser did not enter British territorial waters, but was located in the economic zone, the rights to use of which belong to the United Kingdom.
Scottish nationalists, through Angus Robertson, the leader of this movement, expressed concern about the incident. Robertson said that adverse weather conditions give every reason for Russian sailors to rely on hospitality off the coast of Scotland, but “getting rid of garbage, throwing it just overboard, is more than bad manners.” The politician accused the sailors of the flotilla of dumping waste and garbage in the Scottish coastal waters. According to him, the flotilla ships did this in violation of international conventions, which Russia also adopted.
According to Robertson, the governments of Russia and Britain must explain what happened.
The approach of the Russian Air Force and Navy to the borders of Great Britain more than once raised airplanes and warships of the kingdom in alarm, the English edition continues. In the 2009 year alone, England’s air interceptors had to 20 times, as the publication expresses, to “drive away” Russian military aircraft from the kingdom’s airspace.
There are various versions of the purpose of sending to the Mediterranean Sea from Severomorsk a flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports that in addition to the officially announced joint exercises with the vessels of the Black Sea Fleet, Russian ships can participate in joint patrols of water and maneuvers with NATO forces. Also, the exit of the squadron from Severomorsk was accompanied by rumors that its movement to the Syrian shores was connected with the aggravation of the domestic political situation in Syria and the presence of the American aircraft carrier George Bush near its shores. In addition, observers believe that one of the goals of the maneuvers is to create some kind of "counterweight" to a squadron of American ships off the Syrian coast and to demonstrate power.
"Admiral Kuznetsov" is a group, which includes: "Admiral Chabanenko" - a large anti-submarine ship; "Nikolai Chiker" - rescue-tug vessel; tankers "Kama" "Vyazma" and "Sergey Osipov". Several ships of the Black Sea and Baltic fleets will join this flotilla along the line. Also, later it is necessary to expect the departure in the same direction of several Russian strategic bombers.
The press service of the Western Military District reports that the ships and ships of the aircraft carrier group, headed by Admiral Kuznetsov, will continue to cross the Atlantic after supplying food and water to the Mori Firth Bay from supply ships. This procedure, which began on December 12, was not fully implemented due to deteriorating weather conditions.
The report says that during the transition across the Atlantic, the crews of the heavy aircraft carrier “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”, the patrol ship “Yaroslav the Wise”, the large anti-submarine ship “Admiral Chabanenko” and support ships would work out a number of maneuvers in the inter-fleet group, as well as will continue to improve maritime training. Deck pilots will start flying as soon as the appropriate weather is established.
Ships and support vessels of an aircraft carrier group in Mori Firth Bay anchored December 12.
Information