The Royal Navy has carried out an operation to escort the Russian submarine Krasnodar in the English Channel, the latest in a series of incidents highlighting rising tensions between Russia and NATO countries. The submarine, which was returning from the Mediterranean to a base in Russia, was spotted off the coast of France, the UK Ministry of Defence said. The operation, which involved the patrol ship HMS Tyne and an RAF helicopter, has caused a stir, although it is unclear whether it was a full-scale interception or a routine surveillance mission.

According to The Telegraph, the Varshavyanka-class submarine Krasnodar (Project 636.3) was spotted on the night of May 9, 2025, near French territorial waters. These diesel-electric submarines, known as "black holes" due to their stealth, are equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 2500 km. HMS Tyne, equipped with modern sonar systems, accompanied the submarine through the English Channel, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. A helicopter, probably a Merlin HM2, provided aerial surveillance, which the British military says is standard procedure to ensure security. Notably, the publication notes that it was an interception of the submarine, not an escort, which raised a number of questions.

The incident comes amid heightened activity by the Russian navy. Russia has increased submarine patrols in the Atlantic and Mediterranean in 2024, according to Naval News, in what NATO sees as a show of force. The Krasnodar, which is based in the Black Sea Fleet, previously participated in operations off the coast of Syria, striking targets with Kalibr missiles in 2017-2018. Its return through the Channel is likely related to a force rotation or maintenance in the Baltic, Reuters reports.