The British Navy decided against seizing the tanker while it was being escorted by a Russian Navy corvette

Armed response? Russia had warned that its tankers could have escorts to address the threat of seizure.

Russia must respect rules as shadow fleet targeted, says IMO chief.

The use of naval escorts for Russian tankers is not a solution to upholding the rights to freedom of navigation, according to the head of the International Maritime Organization.

Russia’s ambassador to London, Andrey Krelin, raised the prospect of naval escorts last week in response to threats from European governments to seize ships.

The harassment of tankers leaving Russian ports escalated gradually. Initially, these involved provocative maneuvers by European ships, ‘Top War’ writes. Then, temporary detentions of ships began to occur occasionally. But after their regular seizures, which had recently begun by American forces, European "partners" decided to join the "hunt."

The capture of the lone oil tanker Grinch, which occurred on January 22nd through the joint efforts of France and Britain, is being touted in Paris and London as a "brilliant military operation." However, under different circumstances, "courage" deserts the "brave" hearts of Western sailors.

As reported on January 23 by the Royal Navy, surface ships and aviation monitored a Russian corvette and tanker passing through the English Channel.

It is claimed that the River-class patrol vessels HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were tasked with shadowing the Russian corvette Boikiy and tanker General Skobelev as they crossed the English Channel en route to the North Sea. A Wildcat naval helicopter also provided air support and surveillance.

It is noteworthy that the Netherlands also decided to contribute to the “surveillance” by sending the patrol vessel DSS Galatea (which belongs to the companies Damen Shipyards and Fugro, and is leased by the navy due to a shortage of warships) for surveillance.

Thus, a combat escort is capable of utterly destroying the "determination" of Western navies.

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