Russian warships to pass through English Channel

The Russian naval flotilla as seen from HMS Richmond in the Norwegian Sea (MOD )

A flotilla of Russian warships is expected to enter the English Channel on Friday morning en route to Syria.

Two British naval ships are shadowing the vessels. The Ministry of Defence said they would be "man-marked every step of the way" while near UK waters.

A Russian tug, believed to be in convoy with the taskforce, has entered the channel off the coast near Ramsgate.

EU leaders have strongly condemned Russia's involvement in bombing the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The ships are within international waters but Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK would "be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe".

The UK's Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, escorted by the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, steamed from Portsmouth on Tuesday to track the Kuznetsov group as it headed south from the Norwegian Sea.

The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and other Russian naval vessels are believed to be heading to the eastern Mediterranean.

It is the only carrier in the Russian navy and can carry more than 50 aircraft. Its weapons systems include granit anti-ship cruise missiles.

Russia already has about 10 ships off Syria, which have fired cruise missiles during Russia's bombardment of what it says are anti-government rebels in Syria.

The deployment comes as a "humanitarian pause" in attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo in Syria begins.

The temporary truce is part of a plan to allow civilians and fighters to leave, and Russian and Syrian air strikes have been halted since Tuesday.