Royal Navy follows Russian frigate armed with ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic missiles through British waters after Putin vessel enters the North Sea

• Russian vessel Admiral Gorshkov is being tracked by the Navy’s HMS Portland
• The Russian frigate is armed with ‘unstoppable’  hypersonic missiles
• Admiral Gorshkov’s hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph

A Royal Navy warship is tracking the movements of a Russian frigate armed with ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic Zircon missiles as it sails towards the UK.

The Royal Navy have released a statement saying that HMS Portland is monitoring Russian warship Admiral Gorshkov and an accompanying tanker Kama as they sail into the North Sea.

The Russian vessel is armed with new Mach 9 nuclear-capable Zircon missiles, which travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph, as well as Kalibr missiles.

As the warship sails towards Britain, footage released yesterday shows the capabilities of the vessel when it took part in a series of military exercises.

The Royal Navy released images of HMS Portland tracking the Russian vessels in the North Sea on Monday, January 9, 2023

Footage released yesterday shows the capabilities of the vessel when it took part in a series of military exercises. Pictured: Launch of an ‘unstoppable’ Zircon nuclear-capable hypersonic missile from the Admiral Gorshkov

Following the announcement today, the Navy released images of HMS Portland tracking the Russian vessels in the North Sea on Monday, meaning that the operation has been underway for several days already.

Norwegian Coast Guard vessel Bergen was already tracking the Russian warship as it sailed south through the Norwegian Sea, the Navy said.

HMS Portland then joined the vessels as it entered the North Sea.

The Navy’s vessel is carrying a Merlin helicopter, both equipped with ‘cutting-edge sonars, sensors and torpedoes for specialist operations’, the Navy’s statement said.

In the statement, HMS Portland’s Commanding Officer Commander Ed Moss-Ward said: ‘Escorting warships in UK territorial waters and the adjacent sea areas is routine activity for the Royal Navy.’

Russia warns the West by releasing chilling new footage showing the launch of an ‘unstoppable’ Zircon nuclear-capable Mach 9 hypersonic missile from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in Barents Sea, May 28, 2022

A Russian frigate armed with ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic Zircon missiles is staging war games as it sails towards Britain

The Russian frigate ‘Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov’ armed with Zircon hypersonic weapons leaves the naval base in Severomorsk, January 4, 2023

HMS Portland’s Commanding Officer added: ‘By maintaining a visible and persistent presence, the Royal Navy ensures compliance with maritime law and deters malign activity to protect our nation’s interests.

‘Escorting the Russian task group alongside forces from our NATO allies has demonstrated the UK’s commitment to the alliance and to maintaining maritime security.’

Admiral Gorshkov set sail from Severomorsk, on the north-western tip of Russia last week on its very first deployment. It is understood that the ship is on its way to play war games in the Mediterranean, but Moscow has not revealed the exact timings or route for the warship.

Putin as previously claimed the missiles have ‘no equivalent in the world’ and their arrival comes at a desperate time for Russia after multiple setbacks in Ukraine, with nearly 3,000 troops lost already this year.

The despot could hardly contain his joy announcing the news last week as he said: ‘I am sure that such powerful weapons will make it possible to reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country.’ 

After setting sail on its first deployment last week, the vessel immediately fired a test launch of the nuclear-capable cutting-edge Zircon missiles into the Barents Sea, hitting a target 620 miles away in the White Sea, the Kremlin claimed.

The chilling footage released yesterday showed the extent of the warship’s capabilities and its missiles.

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