A Russian frigate conducted war games as it passed through the English Channel on Tuesday, directly past two of NATO's most significant members.
The Admiral Golovko, a newly-built ship in Russia's Northern Fleet, passed between the United Kingdom and France as part of its maiden voyage.
While crossing through the English Channel, the ship departed the Arctic Russian port of Severomorsk 11 days ago and conducted a range of military exercises, including rescue operations, antisubmarine defense, and anti-aircraft responses.
The Admiral Gorlovko weighs 5,400 tonnes (roughly 5,952 tons) and is armed with hypersonic missiles capable of traveling 6,900 miles per hour. The exercises, which involved deploying drones and helicopters, were held at the closest point between the two NATO nations.
Russian defense ministry TV channel Zvezda described the exercises as "anti-terrorist drills," saying: "The crew of the Admiral Golovko frigate of the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet held exercises in the English Channel.
"The sailors practiced anti-submarine and anti-aircraft defense and conducted a training rescue operation using Ka-27 helicopters."
Russian state news agency Tass said the "main goals of the long-distance deployment are to demonstrate the Russian flag and ensure Russian naval presence in operationally important areas of the World ocean."
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense for comment.
The move comes amid increasing tensions between NATO countries, many of which back Ukraine, and Russia, which remains locked in the war in Eastern Europe.
Early in November, a Russian spy ship was seen "loitering" near a U.S. aircraft carrier stationed in the North Sea. The USS Harry S. Truman, which departed Norway shortly before Norwegian intelligence located the ship, conducted joint exercises with the Norwegian Navy.
U.S. intelligence considered Yantar a spy ship. It was operating within the Norwegian economic zone at the same time as the USS Harry S. Truman was moving.
Both the U.K. and France have been among Ukraine's most vocal supporters since the country's war with Russia began. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris this week to discuss how to maintain NATO support of Ukraine in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. election.
The president-elect has been critical of the amount of aid the U.S. gives Ukraine and has previously referred to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as "the greatest salesman on Earth."
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