The Royal Navy and RAF followed multiple Russian ships and submarines through the English Channel the week at a time of heightened tension.

HMS Iron Duke and HMS Tyne have tracked four Russian vessels through UK waters in recent days as RAF jets intercepted a Russian strategic bomber on Wednesday.

The Navy’s warships have shadowed the Russian advances to ‘protect national security’ as four vessels sailed through the Channel and the North Sea.

Two RAF Typhoons were also scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth on Wednesday, supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, to intercept Russian Bear-F aircraft.

The developments come at a point of heightened tension between Russia and Britain over Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Britain’s backing of Kyiv – with a top Kremlin mouthpiece and former President threatening to ‘sink’ Britain this week.

‘The island called Britain is likely to sink in the next few years,’ Dmitry Medvedev posted on his personal social media account, adding: ‘Our hypersonic missiles will help if necessary.’

Medvedev’s threat against Britain follows a series of declarations from Putin‘s propagandists demanding nuclear strikes to drown the UK under tsunamis triggered by his hypersonic missiles or high-speed Poseidon underwater drone.

Medvedev’s threat against Britain follows a series of declarations from Putin’s propagandists demanding nuclear strikes to drown the UK under tsunamis triggered by his hypersonic missiles or high-speed Poseidon underwater drone.