Royal Navy warships and helicopters have shadowed five Russian vessels in UK waters over the first week of July alone, as Vladimir Putin continues to test Britain's defence capabilities. The warships worked closely with NATO allies as they kept constant watch on the Russian vessels, including two Steregushchiy-class corvettes, a tanker, bulk carrier, and a Smolnyy-class training ship, as they passed through UK waters. This comes amid new warnings that Russia could soon pose a credible threat to Europe, with calls for a rapid increase in defense spending.