The Royal Navy tracked the Russian intelligence-gathering ship Viktor Leonov (Vishnya-class, hull number SSV-175) near the Outer Hebrides off the coast of Scotland. The vessel was monitoring NATO warships taking part in Exercise Strike Warrior between 29 September and 8 October 2026.
To monitor the ship, British forces rapidly redeployed Merlin helicopters from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall to Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The operation was named Iceblast. The helicopters used their sensors to continuously track the movements of the Russian vessel.
Exercise Strike Warrior was led by the Royal Navy and involved more than 2,000 personnel, eight warships and 19 aircraft from six NATO nations.
Captain James Hall, commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, said: “This operation has been a critical means for demonstrating to ourselves, our adversaries and the nation that we are willing and capable of securing the homeland 24/7. The Merlin Helicopter Force stands ready to answer the call at a moment’s notice.”
According to The Telegraph, Russian activity in and around British waters increased by 25% in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Moscow has stepped up the presence of warships, civilian vessels and fishing trawlers in the region.
At the same time, the British ships HMS Dauntless and HMS Tyne were tracking other Russian vessels, including the frigate Neustrashimy and the landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin, which were escorting cargo ships through the English Channel in October.
The incident continues a series of cases of heightened activity by Russian intelligence vessels off the coast of the United Kingdom, including previous appearances of the ship Yantar in 2025.
