Russian warships in English Channel en route Syria

British Royal Navy vessels are escorting Russian warships as they pass through the English Channel.

It is thought that the warships could be transporting supplies to the Assad regime, to supplement the bombing campaign against the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The presence of the warships in the Channel was unprecedented as they advanced as far as along the Kent coast. They became visible at St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the British vessels were keeping a distance of about five miles from the Russians. The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov attracted the most attention. After spotting the carrier, it became apparent that Russian warships have entered British waters.

A senior NATO diplomat has been quoted by Reuters saying that Russian ships were most likely aiming to pass from the English Channel heading towards Gibraltar towards the Mediterranean Sea, heading for their final destination at the Syrian coast. The source also speculated that the warships were carrying fighter bombers to aid Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in his Aleppo operation.

On Wednesday Norway announced that it had spotted the warships sailing in international waters off its coast.