A Royal Navy destroyer conducted an operation to intercept and escort the Russian warship Vice-Admiral Kulakov off the British coast in the North Sea, Sky News reports. The Portsmouth-based HMS Duncan was deployed under NATO Naval Command.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said this is the first time a British warship directly followed NATO orders during such an operation. Additionally, a Wildcat helicopter was deployed to provide reconnaissance and visual monitoring.

The operation took place from October 17 to 19, involving the French Navy and a Dutch NH90 helicopter. HMS Duncan monitored the movement of the Russian anti-submarine ship from the North Sea through the English Channel to the island of Ouessant in the southwestern part of the strait.

UK Deputy Defense Minister Alistair Cairns stated that “the Royal Navy is ready to respond to any activity by the Russian Navy” to protect the country and its territorial waters. Destroyer captain Dan Lee added that the mission demonstrated Britain’s commitment to “coordinated action with NATO allies to ensure the security of shared maritime spaces.” HMS Duncan, along with the frigate HMS Somerset, is part of NATO’s SNMG1 task group patrolling Northern European waters.

The Vice-Admiral Kulakov is a Project 1155 large anti-submarine ship, commissioned in 1981 and currently serving in the Russian Northern Fleet. Its armament includes up to eight Kinzhal SAM launchers (64 missiles), two 100mm AK-100 guns, four six-barrel 30mm AK-630M machine guns, two RBU-6000 rocket launchers, two Rastrub-B anti-submarine systems, two Ka-27 helicopters, as well as eight 53–65K torpedoes and 26 mines.