Russian Tanker Avoids Interception After Passing Through the English Channel – Saved by Baltic Fleet Corvette

The Russian oil tanker MT General Skobelev passed through the English Channel, escorted by the missile corvette Boykiy from the Russian Baltic Fleet.

Navy Lookout reported on this.

The Russian ships were navigating one of the world’s busiest sea routes, close to the territorial waters of the United Kingdom.

To monitor the situation, the British Navy deployed two patrol ships – HMS Mersey and HMS Severn.

HMS Mersey started the escort as the Russian ships approached the UK’s territorial waters, after being continuously monitored by NATO forces in the Bay of Biscay.

As the vessels moved closer to the Isle of Wight, HMS Severn joined the operation, working in coordination with Mersey.

In addition, Wildcat helicopters from the Royal Navy’s 815 Squadron also provided aerial surveillance and escort for the Russian tanker.

It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Russia has used combat ships to escort its tankers.

In fact, this operation took place just two weeks after a similar mission by the Royal Navy.

At that time, the patrol ship HMS Mersey and a Wildcat helicopter from the 815th Squadron of the British Navy escorted the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk (of the Udaloy class), along with the Russian tankers MYS Zhelaniya and Sparta IV.

This group was monitored as it passed through the Strait of Dover and the English Channel until it was handed over to partner forces near the island of Ushant.

Later, on January 9, this group was near Portugal and heading towards the Mediterranean Sea.

By January 18, 2026, the Russian sanctioned vessel Mys Zhelaniya delivered military cargo to Libya under the protection of a combat ship.

Although Mys Zhelaniya concealed its destination port in its navigation systems, the recorded route and prior intelligence confirmed that the unloading took place in Tobruk.

Meanwhile, another sanctioned vessel, Sparta IV, was heading towards the Syrian port of Tartus.