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'Posturing' Russians to send aircraft carrier and fleet along the English Channel


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'Posturing' Russians to send aircraft carrier and fleet along the English Channel

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/14/russian-aircraft-carrier-expected-in-english-channel/

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Russia is expected to sail its only aircraft carrier through the English Channel later this month amid strained relations between London and Moscow over the Syria crisis. Royal Navy chiefs and their Nato allies are drawing up plans to escort up to eight Russian warships which are due to leave port imminently to join the country’s air strike campaign against Syrian rebels. Admirals believe the Kremlin will use the voyage as an opportunity for a show of strength as it passes Britain, and expect the carrier’s aircraft to launch flying drills off the British and French coasts.
 

 

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The Royal Naval preparations come after Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, this week triggered a diplomatic row by saying he would “like to see demonstrations outside the Russian embassy” in London over Moscow’s role in the ongoing Syrian conflict. A former First Sea Lord on Friday said Russian posturing risked inflaming tensions further.

Nato navies have been preparing a major operation to track the 55,000 tonne Admiral Kuznetsov and its escorts in a game of “naval cat and mouse” down through the North Atlantic to the Bay of Biscay and then into the Mediterranean.
 

 

 

One Nato naval source said the Russian vessels were due to leave Severomorsk near Murmansk imminently and could pass Britain as early as next week. The source said: “It’s not catching us by surprise, we are working up what to do and we are all over it. The most likely thing is that they will go through the North Sea, down the Dover Strait and through the Channel.

“They might even stop off the North East coast to fly for a bit.” But the source said it was also possible the Russian warships would split, with some going through the Irish Sea or down the West coast of Ireland, “to cause more trouble”. The source said: “Even if it splits five ways and we can’t man mark them, it doesn’t matter, we have got this covered.”

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Well if they are heading to Syria thy are doing a Nikki Finn 'is this the way?!' (The Channel is very busy)

Seriously though what are they thinking? Cant they just fly an ambassador over for closed door talks?

Now weve frozen their bank accounts.

Ill probably see them out of my window. Eek!

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37791523

Russian warship 'refuels off North Africa'

Confusion over withdrawn refuel request to Spain

File photo dated 21/10/2016 of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.

 

A group of warships including Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, is reportedly refuelling at sea off North Africa en route to Syria. Plans for some of the ships to dock at a Spanish port were cancelled after Nato allies voiced concern. Nato is concerned planes from the carrier could be used to attack civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

President Vladimir Putin also hinted that an aerial bombardment of rebel-held east Aleppo could resume. Russia and its ally, the Syrian government, had said earlier that they would continue a moratorium on the bombing. At an international conference in the Russian city of Sochi on Thursday, Mr Putin said other parties to the conflict had not been keeping their promises.

"Where is the disengagement of terrorists from the healthy part of the opposition?" Mr Putin asked. "So far we have been restrained, and we have not been rude to our partners, but everything has its limits. We could respond." The Admiral Kuznetsov can carry dozens of fighter bombers and helicopters. It has been sailing for the past week from Russia to the Mediterranean.

The BBC's Jonathan Marcus reports from Brussels that the battle group is currently at anchor off the North African coast and taking on fuel. The group has two "oilers" (tankers) with it and it is not clear which of the vessels is actually refuelling, he adds. The Russian embassy in Madrid formally withdrew a request to Spain for refuelling after being approached by the Spanish foreign ministry.

"Given the information which appeared on the possibility that these ships would participate in supporting military action in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the ministry of foreign affairs requested clarification from the embassy of the Russian Federation in Madrid," the Spanish foreign ministry had said on Wednesday in a statement to the BBC.

It added that permission had been granted in September for three Russian ships to dock in the port of Ceuta between 28 October and 2 November. It said such stops for Russian naval vessels had taken place for years in Spanish ports. 

 

Map showing route of Russian flotilla

Nato had said the final decision on resupply rested with Spain.

"We are concerned and I have expressed that very clearly about the potential use of this battle group to increase Russia's ability and to be a platform for air strikes against Syria," Nato's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told journalists on Tuesday.

 

Armed military personnel alongside aircraft on the flight deck of Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in the English Channel on 21 October

 

The naval group also includes a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, probably escorted by submarines. The battle group is expected to join about 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast. Some 2,700 people have been killed or injured since the Russian-backed Syrian offensive started last month, according to activists.

Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia. About 250,000 civilians who live in Aleppo have been trapped by the fighting. Moscow announced last week a "humanitarian pause" in attacks as part of a plan to allow civilians and fighters to leave the area.

 

 

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