By Sam Webb A Russian aircraft carrier and and a nuclear-powered battle cruiser have passed through the English Channel - escorted by a British warship. The seven-strong naval task group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's largest warship, entered the Channel last night, a Royal Navy spokesman said. Although the ships did not enter UK territorial waters, their movements were tracked by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon - the duty fleet-ready escort vessel - which was dispatched from Portsmouth. Scroll down for video Escort: HMS Dragon (foreground) with the Russian aircraft carrier 'Admiral Kuznetsov', in the English Channel. HMS Dragon tracked and met up with a Russian task group off the coast of Brest as they entered the English Channel yesterday
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Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's largest warship, led six other vessels through the Channel last night
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A Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Dragon, was dispatched from Portsmouth to escort the task group
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'Routine' passage comes amid period of heightened tension over troubles in Ukraine
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It came on the same day Russian president Vladimir Putin oversaw simulation of nuclear missile launches
Admiral Kuznetsov
Admiral Kuznetsov
Admiral Kuznetsov
'The decision was taken about 10 days ago when we first knew of the @placeholder's planned route.
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
While he stressed that the passage of the Russian ships was 'routine business' for the @placeholder, he said there had been a resurgence of Russian military air activity in recent years.