Hms-Severn

Thr HMS 'Severn' has intercepted two Russian warships transiting the English Channel over the past two weeks in round-the-clock shadowing operations. The patrol ship tracked the RFN 'Stoikiy', a Russian corvette, and the 'Yelnya', a replenishment oiler, as they sailed west through the Dover Strait into the English Channel before transferring monitoring duties to a NATO ally off the coast of Brittany in northwest France. The British patrol ship continued to observe from a distance and remained ready to respond to any unexpected activity. The interception came against a backdrop of heightened tensions following an incident involving the Russian spy ship 'Yantar', which allegedly directed lasers at RAF pilots monitoring the vessel. On Nov 19, 2025, the British Defence Secretary John Healey warned that “military options” were prepared should the intelligence-gathering ship become a threat. In response to the incident, Healey announced operational changes to enhance monitoring capabilities. UK armed forces remain on patrol from the English Channel to the High North amid increased Russian activity threatening UK waters.

HMS Severn has returned to Portsmouth after a major upgrade. Work during the two-month refit included overhauls to her two main engines and generators as well as revamped accommodation areas. Her two sea boats have been fully serviced and the freshwater production system on board has been updated. She also received a fresh lick of paint. HMS Severn and her sister vessels HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey can also be used for anything from firefighting to disaster relief 
operations. The Fishery Protection Squadron is the oldest front line squadron in the Royal Navy, and has a small headquarters based in Portsmouth Naval Base