Red alert: Royal Navy scrambles frigate to intercept FOUR Russian naval ships sailing through the English Channel

• HMS Westminster, which last month tested missile system, sent into Channel
• It is escorting four Russian naval vessels through the Strait of Dover this week
• Russian ships are returning to the Baltic after operations in the Middle East 
• Incident is the latest contact between the two forces in the English Channel

Britain has scrambled a warship into the English Channel to escort four Russian naval vessels through the Strait of Dover.

The Portsmouth-based HMS Westminster has been sent out to shadow the Russian ships RFS Soobraziltenyy and RFS Boikiy and two support vessels off the south coast.

The Russian vessels, which both passed the coast of Gibraltar last week, are now entering the Channel, thought to be returning to the Baltic after operations in the Middle East.

The Royal Navy's HMS Westminster escorts Russian frigate Boiky through the English Channel

Four Russian ships are skirting British waters as they return from action in the Middle East

Commander Simon Kelly, Commanding Officer of British warship, said: 'HMS Westminster's role as the Royal Navy's Fleet Ready Escort is to be at very high readiness to respond to anything the British government requires.

'While today most people are returning to work for the first time in the New Year, HMS Westminster's ship's company has been at sea and at readiness as part of the Royal Navy's commitment to keep Britain safe at all times.

'The English Channel is an absolute lifeline for the UK, and it is very important HMS Westminster and the Royal Navy maintains a watchful eye on this key strategic link.'

The same two ships, the RFS Soobraziltenyy, meaning 'Astute', and RFS Boikiy, meaning 'Brave', were escorted through the Strait in the opposite direction last April, on their way to the Mediterranean.

The Royal Navy has repeatedly had to send ships out to meet Russian vessels in recent months, amid growing militarism from the Kremlin.

On Christmas Day, the frigate HMS St Albans was dispatched to track the Russian vessel Admiral Gorshkov as it made its way through the North Sea close to Britain. 

The ships are returning north after taking part in Russian operations in the Middle East

The HMS Westminster has been sent into the English Channel to escort Russian naval ships

And on Christmas Eve, HMS Tyne was dispatched to escort a Russian intelligence-gathering ship through the North Sea and the England Channel. A Wildcat helicopter was then also dispatched to monitor two further Russian vessels.

Giving an unusually strong statement last month, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: 'I will not hesitate in defending our waters or tolerate any form of aggression.

'Britain will never be intimidated when it comes to protecting our country, our people, and our national interests.'

Last month, the HMS Westminster, a Type 23 'Duke-class' frigate, became the Royal Navy's second ship to successfully fire the multi-million pound Sea Ceptor missile system. 

Russia's Boikiy corvette is one of the four ships entering the English Channel this week

Parts of the ship were previously used for filming scenes in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan.

The 104-metre-long Steregushchiy-class frigate RFS Soobrazitelny was previously intercepted by the HMS Montrose off the coast of Denmark in 2014.