Royal Navy tracks Russian ship near NATO exercise off Scotland

The Royal Navy tracked the Russian vessel Viktor Leonov off Scotland while it monitored NATO’s Exercise Strike Warrior, according to reports. The operation ran from September 29 to October 8 and involved Merlin helicopters redeployed to Scotland; one report also places the activity within a wider pattern of Russian naval operations around Britain.

• The vessel was identified as the Vishnya-class ship Viktor Leonov and was tracked off Scotland from September 29 to October 8 while it monitored Exercise Strike Warrior.· 1 source
• Merlin helicopters were redeployed from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall to Glasgow Prestwick Airport for the surveillance operation.· 1 source
• Exercise Strike Warrior involved about 2,000 personnel and warships from six NATO member states.· 1 source
• The report says Russian naval activity around Britain rose 25 per cent in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.· 1 source
• A separate report describes the Royal Navy as tracking a Russian intelligence-gathering ship near a NATO naval exercise, but provides fewer operational details.· 1 source