In a display of maritime solidarity and international cooperation, a large fleet of NATO and Ukrainian warships have arrived in Glasgow.
The fleet consists of vessels from various NATO countries and includes a range of classes from minehunters to multipurpose vessels.
The fleet comprises an array of vessels from across Europe, including the Dutch HNLMS Vlaardingen, Mercuur, Makkum, and Snellius, the Estonian EML Sakala, the French FS Sagittaire, Norway’s HNoMS Nordkapp, and HMS Pembroke from the United Kingdom.
Prioritising both the law and safety compliance, footage was captured at zoom by a registered, insured, qualified operator strictly adhering to a submitted flight plan. The drone's path stayed over the river and grassland, never encroaching the port or ships for safety reasons.
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) June 24, 2023
Two noteworthy attendees are the Ukrainian minehunters Cherkasy and Chernihiv, formerly Royal Navy vessels, now serving with the Ukrainian Navy. These vessels have become symbols of the deepening defence relationship between the UK, NATO, and Ukraine.
The fleet is in Glasgow ahead of a significant event. Although the specifics of the event have not been publicly detailed, it is clear that security measures are being ramped up to ensure the safety of all those involved. Don’t worry, we have verified that the drone footage is legal.
A temporary flight restriction will be going up over the dock next week “to protect the large numbers of persons attending an event” according to a notice regarding an upcoming temporary flight restriction. The notice on this states that restrictions are to be enforced on June 26, 2023 and are applicable to unmanned aircraft, with manned aircraft remaining unaffected. The temporary restriction will be in place from 0600 hours to 1400 hours on the given date.
No unmanned aircraft system, including drones of any type, will be allowed to fly below 1000 feet above mean sea level within an area bounded by a circle with a radius of 1 nautical mile centred at 555209N 0042109W.
The arrival of such a significant naval fleet in Glasgow, and the security measures in place, point towards an event of considerable importance. Further information on this gathering of international naval power in Glasgow should be released soon.
Drone footage
We have verified the drone footage as being legal, as we always do, but we thought it best to include this section.
In the United Kingdom, drone flights are managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and adherence to these rules is essential to ensure the legal operation of drones. For the footage captured of the NATO and Ukrainian warships in Glasgow, the operator used a sub-250g drone. Under UK legislation (Article 95 of the Air Navigation Order 2016), drones of this weight are exempt from minimum distance requirements from people, vessels, vehicles, and structures. Despite this exemption, the operator maintained a prudent distance from the port and the ships, focusing the drone’s flight path over the river and nearby grassland as an added safety measure.
This drone flight took place on the 24th of June, 2023, before the commencement of a temporary flight restriction around the King George V Docks, Glasgow, which is set to begin on June 26, 2023. This restriction, articulated in Article 239 of the ANO, prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying below 1000 feet above mean sea level within a 1 nautical mile radius of the specified coordinates. As the flight occurred outside of this restriction period, it was in full compliance with the ANO. Furthermore, there are no UK laws prohibiting the filming of naval vessels, provided it is done safely and without intruding on their operations. Thus, filming the warships was legal.
In addition to these legal requirements and precautions, the operator also followed several best practice guidelines to ensure the safe and legal operation of the drone. The operator was registered with the CAA and had secured the necessary Operator ID for the drone. Thorough pre-flight checks were conducted, including checking the weather for safe flying conditions and reviewing Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for any temporary airspace restrictions. During the flight, the operator actively monitored for nearby aircraft to avoid any risk of interference.
These thorough measures, while not all mandated by law, demonstrated the operator’s commitment to safety and regulatory standards, further ensuring the legality and safety of the drone flight.
Sorry to immediately divert away from your excellent piece Lisa, but events are moving fast, apparently Wagner group shot down a Hind today, everything looks like it will hinge on the next 24 hours, will the Russian Army stand down, join in with or engage Wagner en mass?
Opportunities have suddenly opened up for the Ukrainians too, are there back channels open with Wagner group?
A facinating and equally dangerous week ahead …
Hasn’t Putins cook bottled it and stood down Wagner?
Yes he has bottled it. If he’d advanced to Moscow. Overthrown Putin and put someone other then himself in power things might finally be changing for the good.
But he’s bottled it. So you can bet he and his entire family will be receiving a novichok handshake or cup of coffee soon.
It’s safe to say he is a dead man walking, it’s not like he can get asylum in the west.
Unless neither of those options is the plan…..?
Yes it could all be a strange play…maybe Putin needed someone highlight some blame on the defence minister ?
we only find out when it’s all played out.
Max Sneddon the head of the FT news Bureau in Moscow has posted a few very interesting Tweets:
https://i.postimg.cc/sx7y8qTJ/Opera-Snapshot-2023-06-24-214541-twitter-com.png
I can’t work out if there was some behind the scenes planning to the whole thing by putin to scare the domestic citizens, as some kind of tactic to weaken the Russian defence military leadership.
Or it’s just a total shit show and one last hurrah for Wagner PMC.
The first I find difficult to believe but it is putin so nothing is off the table.
Anyway been an entertaining 24 hours.
Until next time.
It’s really hard to say, but we will have a better idea from the final outcome…
After thinking about it a couple of things stand out:
1) The Wagner group just upped out of a war zone and without anyone noticing take a city and a regional military headquarters…without a shot fired
2)chatted with a couple of very senior leader, in what seems like an oddly relaxed way.
3) charge up half the county without any real resistance or barriers
4) suddenly stop 200 miles from Moscow and then go home
5) and all of a sudden Mr P goes from advocating invasion of Ukraine..to saying the whole Ukraine threat was a set up by the defence minister and Putin had been lied to….
its some odd stuff
If it was a plan, it was a plan that Putin didn’t come out looking very good from.
The Belarus president came out looking like a great statesman and the leader of the Chechen Republic came out looking strong.
Putin has come out of this looking weak.
He was going to punish them in the morning and let them off in the afternoon.
Russian plans are mental.
I’m sure Mr P, head of the Wagner massed rape and looting company is about to receive a nice cup of Novichok Tea, as will his wife and entire family. That’s how vindictive Putin is. No way the Nazi number 2 is going to be left alive after the last 24 hours.
That’s democracy in action in Russia right there.
Still, I expect that the remaining Wagner organised crime group members won’t be requesting balconies or anything above ground level for their accommodation. Or drinking tea.
Well it’s a plan of sorts😂🤣😂🤣😂 as far as Russian plans go , compared to previous recent attempts it’s a masterpiece.
Might result in the demise of the Russian defence minister/head of armed forces.
It does appear that Putin shat his pants, jumped on a plane out of there with instructions to the drunken fuckwit dictator of Belarus to sort it out with piggy. Once sorted, Putin turned around and came back, ensuring a large supply of wet wipes to clean his behind and to dry his eyes! Ah Russia, so stable, so economically viable and so democratic!!!!!!! You’re backing the wrong horse johnskie….interestingly enough if Putler had been usurped, and piggy Priggy became chief Nazi, I take it you would condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Putin yes? As you need to stay on side by those who provide the potatoes and 2 litres of diesel per week. Or maybe just condemn the illegal invasion now?
The digital silence is deafening Airborne…..
There’s another saying, “why refuse to condemn this illegal invasion by Putin, is it because you’re a troll or a Nazi, or both”? It’s a more modem saying but very relevant to the current goings on in Ukraine.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”
That perfectly describes the activities of the rapists you support.
Good Lord you are a special one…lol
Ah the US green card still eludes you then! Never mind!
So all in all, the invasion of Ukraine still going to plan yeah?
Well seeing as the Russian high command didn’t seem to know of or have any plan, it’s hardly surprising that a lowly sock puppet like yourself would know. It goes virtually without saying that what you know about military tactics, doctrine, strategy and anything else could be written on the back of a postage stamp.
Doesn’t say much for the quality of Russian troops when 15000 rapists and pederast survivors of the mass casualty human wave attacks are considered ‘battle hardened.’
Untrained, unskilled, useful idiots. A bit like yourself really.
Excellent.
I’m sure they will be delighted to use those 15,000 soldiers in some reckless human wave assault as is the Russian armies best and only tactic in the Ukraine war.
I’m sure the Ukrainian military are quivering with fear at the prospect…..or maybe not.
‘… 15,000 battle hardened troops …’
Hardened just changed its meaning.
U are assuming that all the Wagner troops are going to sign up for the Russian MOD and fight like they did for Wagner.
That’s a complete unknown just now. I’m the sure the Russian officials will tell us 150,000 elite Wagner troops with balls the size of coconuts have transferred in due course. But they aren’t known for reliable or even slightly believable statements.
I know if I had just spent the last 14 months fighting, watching colleagues get injured, killed I would want a break.
Remarkably well read and seemingly able to be determine the course of action for Mad Vlad’s Russian tin pot dictatorship for a English bloke based in Milton Keynes.
😂🤣😂🤣😂 I guess your FSB handlers and you were a bit worried there for a few hours in case Wagner genuinely were going to overthrow your dogs dinner of a government.
You guys make the Tories look like they know what they are doing by comparison. (Which they don’t by the way)
Can see a headline next week, Wagner Group attacks Kiev from Belarus. All part of the greater plan to show that Wagner group can achieve what the Russian army could not when the invasion started.
GCHQ/NSA, thus NATO, would see the movement of the Wagner forces from Rostov area NW to Belarus. Ukraine would be waiting for them, like they were last time Russia attacked from there.
I understand UKR keep forces up there for that purpose.
You say that the loss of Putin would be “for the good” but there’s a very strong chance that he’d be replaced by a Hawk rather than the desired Dove.
We need to be careful what we wish for
I doubt it will end well for him. Still, when one war criminal bumps another off it’s still one less major war criminal & saves millions in war crimes prosecutions.
John at least you said sorry before posting 😉
It appears that the Ukraine have played their cards and crossed the Dnieper river opposite Kherson (River not as wide now) If true, they have totally out flanked the Russians during a time when Moscow is somewhat occupied
https://i.postimg.cc/sx6CGzHK/Opera-Snapshot-2023-06-24-213644-twitter-com.png
✌
Hoorah. Some good news.
I was salivating at the prospects of a Rusfascist civil war. Now that’s not happening the next best thing is Ukraine taking the opportunity of Russia being somewhat distracted to go all out offensive right now.
Nice weekend to be in Glasgow. Well if the weather is like Edinburgh.
Ukrainians coming along for the journey in there ships is nice aswell
Well my money is on Russia strategically regrouping inside Russia. Has it already started?
It’s events like this that should be used as evidence more often when people act as though the UK can’t defend itself against attack – yes, we do need a bigger surface fleet (I would say much bigger) but no – in the event of a major war we are unlikely to be standing alone.I appreciate that a couple of non-NATO ships are there, but it does need to stated more often that our shores are protected by far more than the RN, just as we ourselves help protect other nations against threats.
We really really really do need to get serious about defence though. The current size and power of the armed forces is terrible.
Agree at least 100%
It’s Sunday, got to much Sun today and need a Beer.
But I just read all your comments and decided I’d be a bit of a rebel and actually comment on this post.
Besides which I am a father of daughters and my Mum & Gran brought me up as a Gentleman with strong feminist principles and Lisa deserves some acknowledgment of her work.🤬
IMHO in your haste to spout the same info and your opinions you are ignoring the rather interesting info in this post.
You lot are being very rude !
My thoughts !
A significant event that requires security and flight exclusions ?
Mmm well it could be that as the 2 Ukrainian ex RN minesweepers are now worked up they are going on exercises with other minesweepers.
That may not sound very significent as NATO and friendly Navy’s have been carrying out minesweeping exercises in Scotland for years. I am originally from Galloway and seeing Luce and Wigtown bay full of ships like these is not uncommon.
If I’m right then why is that a significant event ?
If NATO formerly invites Ukrainian Navy for integrated exercises for the 1st time post Russian invasion. Yep that’s very very significant.
And then what ?
I may be off my trolley to suggest this and I reckon I’ll be accused of fantasy war.
But if we’re NATO and I really wanted to support Ukraine in a peaceful but really meaningful way, help the starving in Africa and publicly rub Putins nose in the poop.
Then I’d remember that 3 NATO countries actually have Black Sea coastlines and have mines popping up all over the place.
As I understand it, the “conventions of the straits” allow up 9 warships from non belligerent warships through the Bosphorus if their combined tonnage is less than 15,000 tonnes and they are lightly armed. They have to give 15 days notice before doing so.
Sweeping a safe corridor of passage from the 3 Mile limit to the straits by non combatants isn’t illegal and you can put a no fly zone over them for protection.
as they are in international waters.
And Mr Putin would have to stop firing missiles from the Black Sea fleet as NATO would be in the way.
Your thoughts and comments ?
It might just be a Ukrainian ceremonial for the two ships. I can also understand there being a combined exercise and some formal event to launch it, with bigwigs present. Pointless to speculate which ones and we’ll find out tomorrow.
Two of the listed ships are from NATO MCM Grp1 and one is from Grp2, the rest not, so I don’t think it’s an simple attachment to one of the current groups.
A NATO minehunting exercise in the Black Sea would be pretty bold. It times well with the end of the Ukraine grain harvests, but I don’t even know if the Ukrainian ships will be allowed through the Bosphorous. Can you return to a base you have never been based in?
As far as I know The Bosphorous is closed to all warships by Turkey.
The RN is transitioning from traditional minesweepers, like the 2 we just gave to Ukraine and moving to air transportable autonomous minesweeping ARCIMS USV.
That means we can get them anywhere in the world regardless of any closed waterways or choke points.
That’s not too shabby and seems entirely sensible of the RN – to an uniformed Civvy lurker’s point of view.
Actually Turkey has some discretion over the warships of Belligerents but has to allow them through if they are returning to their previous home port.
NATO and its members are not Belligerent’s we are neutral and not at war with either party as such as long as we comply with the restrictions and give the due notice they cannot legally refuse.
As for non Belligerent Nations Article 20 gives Turkey no right to stop their Civilian or warships going through the straits providing they give 15 days notice, the total numbers do not exceed 15k tons and no more than 9 ships at a time. The exception is Carriers which are forbidden under all circumstances.
The reason they haven’t permitted any through so far is because I don’t think anyone other than Russia has asked !
Read the Montreux convention 😉
I’m not saying that is what they are doing but if I was NATO it’s what I’d do.
Its legal, it’s useful, it’s peaceful, it’s helping to feed folks and just piles more Plop on Putin.
Have you read Articles 20 and 21 about the suspension of clauses 10-18? Together they say if Turkey feels threatened by the imminent danger of war, it lets warships through entitrely at its own discretion.
If Turkey feels allowing NATO warships into the Black Sea might cause Russian reprisals or it’s worried about getting dragged into the war some other way, it can invoke Article 21 and do whatever it likes.
But at present we still use the older MCM ships as the new systems are still in trials.
So far ! But unlike Russia and Ukraine NATO countries are non belligerent and perfectly entitled to exercise their right of passage as per Article 20 of the Montreux Treaty. If we stay in international waters their is sweet FA Turkey or Russia can say about it.
Russia is perfectly capable of circumventing the Treaty legally by other means as long as they stick to smaller Warships below 3 to 4 K tonnes and have less than 4m draught.
But then you know that anyway.
Make an effort to reply to ABC! You never ever argue or debate your point when that point or post is proved to be wrong time and time again! You’re like a farmer (not a Ukrainian one as he would be driving a T72) no a Russian one just about capable of muck spreading! Anyway, that condemnation of this illegal invasion of Ukraine by Putin?
Not quite wrong though eh! But aside from that, was Putin wrong to invade Ukraine illegally or do you support that invasion? Have the bravery to support your thought processes and previous pro Russian propaganda with a definitive statement! But alas we won’t see one will we!
I can’t think of anything that would be a more stupid idea. At present they are not commissioned warships of a belligerent Nation. If they were to do so I suspect we would have intern them and their crews for the duration of the war. See Graf Spee for details 😉
We aren’t neutral and need do nothing of the sort. We are non-belligerent — very different. We train thousands of Ukrainian soldiers on UK soil; we don’t stick them in internment camps!
I didn’t mention the 2 Ukrainian ships, just the NATO ones.