Dramatic pictures show Russian naval officers brandishing machine guns in the English Channel as they transport a sanctioned a cargo ship through British waters. Pictures taken by The Times show armed personel onboard the Russian Boikiy as it escorted cargo ship Baltic Leader on a journey from Syria to Russia.

The Boikiy naval corvette was escorting a larger cargo vessel, the Baltic Leader, carrying weapons believed to be destined for the Ukraine conflict through the English Channel

The British Royal Navy said on Wednesday that it had been keeping an eye on a Russian merchant vessel and battleship that was traveling through the North Sea and English Channel this week. The Royal Navy stated that HMS Somerset,

The vessel was a sanctioned Russian cargo ship, crewed by men in military fatigues. The ship reportedly transported military hardware through the Channel

A Royal Navy helicopter, patrol planes and HMS Somerset tracked Russian ships sailing through the English Channel and North Sea. The UK carried out a three-day operation monitoring the Russian task group in UK waters.

The Russian warship had been escorting a cargo ship on its voyage from Syria through the English Channel and North Sea.

A Royal Navy warship has shadowed a Russian task group sailing through the English Channel and the North Sea. HMS Somerset kept watch over the Russian corvette Boikiy for three da