A Royal Marine commando leans out of a military helicopter as it prepares to intercept the Smyrtos, an oil tanker within Russia's shadow fleet that had sailed south of the Isle of Wight.
The new maritime defence initiative comes in response to a 41% increase in Russian naval activity around the UK, such as when the Smyrtos, an oil tanker within Russia’s shadow fleet, sailed south of the Isle of Wight, prompting interception by UK forces. Photograph: LPhot Hutchins/MoD Crown copyright/PA
The new maritime defence initiative comes in response to a 41% increase in Russian naval activity around the UK, such as when the Smyrtos, an oil tanker within Russia’s shadow fleet, sailed south of the Isle of Wight, prompting interception by UK forces. Photograph: LPhot Hutchins/MoD Crown copyright/PA