Call for clarity over Russian naval visit

The SNP has called on the Ministry of Defence to clarify whether or not the pre-Christmas Russian naval visit off the Scottish coast included several vessels from the Admiral Kuznetsov naval task force.

With no conventional Royal Navy surface vessels based in or on operations around Scotland, the ministry deployed a Fleet Ready Escort vessel from Portsmouth, over 600 miles away, to escort the Russian vessels from British waters.

The Nationalists have pointed out that if it were confirmed the Russian vessels were part of an Admiral Kuznetsov task force, then it would be the second time in two years that the Navy has had to conduct such an escort duty so close to Scotland.

Read more