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Tag: Ministry of Defence

  • British warship escorts Chinese task force in Channel as vessels head to Russia

    British warship escorts Chinese task force in Channel as vessels head to Russia

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    A BRITISH warship has escorted a Chinese navy task force through the English Channel as the ships sailed to join up with Vladimir Putin.

    HMS Richmond monitored the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ships as they passed just kilometres from the UK twice in three weeks.

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    HMS Richmond (foreground) monitoring the Chinese destroyer JiaozuoCredit: PA
    The HMS Richmond monitored the task force as it headed to Russia

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    The HMS Richmond monitored the task force as it headed to RussiaCredit: PA

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    The Jiaozuo, a 7500-tonne destroyer, and Honghu, a 23,400-tonne supply ship were headed to St Petersburg to participate in Russian Navy Days.

    Richmond used her helicopter ‘Brigand’, cutting-edge sensors, and old fashioned visual contact to watch the two boats pass through the channel.

    A French warship and a patrol ship from the Belgian navy as part of a NATO task force also helped watch the Chinese vessels past their countries.

    UK Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, said: “These escorts are a clear demonstration of how the Royal Navy continues to protect the sovereignty of UK waters.

    “Working closely with our allies to support Euro-Atlantic security is a top priority for this government.

    “I thank the crew of HMS Richmond for conducting a safe and professional transit and all they do in keeping our nation secure at home and strong abroad.”

    HMS Richmond’s Commanding Officer, Commander Richard Kemp, said: “Close monitoring of foreign vessels in UK waters is routine business for the Royal Navy and ensures their compliance with maritime law and respect for UK sovereignty.

    “By maintaining a visible and persistent presence, the Royal Navy demonstrates our commitment to the NATO alliance and in maintaining maritime security which is crucial to our national interests.”

    A Royal Navy spokesperson said it was not a common occurrence that Chinese warships passed through the English Channel.

    The Russian Navy Day last most was attended by 71-year-old dictator Putin as he watched over his shrinking force.

    Watch as Brit warship HMS Richmond blasts two Houthi drones with Sea Ceptor missiles after ‘large scale’ rebel attack

    In November, HMS Richmond monitored the Russian vessel Admiral Grigorovich which headed through the channel towards the Mediterranean.

    The operation involved following the Russian frigate through stormy seas during Storm Ciaran – which brought 104mph hurricane winds and an amber warning of danger to life.

    In 2019, HMS St Albans and Westminster monitored another Chinese destroyer that was making the same trip.

    HMS Richmond has recently seen action in the Red Sea, when it destroyed two attack Houthi drones with powerful Sea Ceptor missiles.

    The Type 23 frigate set sail from Plymouth armed with 32 Sea Captor missiles and a Wildcat helicopter in January.

    HMS Richmond joined the destroyer HMS Diamond, frigate HMS Lancaster, a squadron of three mine hunting vessels HMS Bangor, HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Middleton and the support ship RFA Cardigan Bay.

    The Chinese destroyer Jiaozuo (front) and support vessel Honghu (centre) passed through the English Channel

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    The Chinese destroyer Jiaozuo (front) and support vessel Honghu (centre) passed through the English ChannelCredit: PA
    HMS Richmond has been active in the Red Sea battling Houthi drones

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    HMS Richmond has been active in the Red Sea battling Houthi drones

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    James Halpin

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  • Ukraine says it uncovers mass fraud in weapons procurement

    Ukraine says it uncovers mass fraud in weapons procurement

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    (Reuters) – Ukraine’s SBU security service said on Saturday it had uncovered a corruption scheme in the purchase of arms by the country’s military totalling the equivalent of about $40 million.

    The announcement of mass procurement fraud, confirmed by Ukraine’s Defence Ministry, will have a huge resonance in a country beleaguered by Russia’s nearly two-year-old invasion.

    The fight to root out endemic corruption remains a major issue as Ukraine presses its bid to secure membership in the European Union.

    The SBU said an investigation had “exposed officials of the Ministry of Defence and managers of arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, who stole nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias in the purchase of shells.”

    “According to the investigation, former and current high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defence and heads of affiliated companies are involved in the embezzlement.”

    The embezzlement, it said, involved the purchase of 100,000 mortar shells for the military.

    The SBU said a contract for the shells was clinched with Lviv Arsenal in August 2022 – six months into the war – and payment was made in advance, with some funds transferred abroad.

    But no arms were ever provided, the statement said, with some funds then moved to other foreign accounts.

    The statement said five individuals had been served “notices of suspicion” – the first stage in Ukrainian legal proceedings – both in the ministry and the arms supplier. One suspect, it said, was detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border.

    Corruption within the military has been a particularly sensitive issue in Ukraine as it tries to maintain wartime public morale and present its case to join the 27-nation EU.

    Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov was dismissed last September over various corruption cases despite enjoying a solid reputation in representing Ukraine in its discussions with Western allies.

    Although he was not alleged to have engaged personally in corruption, several cases hit the military under his stewardship, one for supplying troops with food, another over procuring suitable clothing for servicemen.

    (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Maria Starkova; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

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