Britain has deployed a flotilla of Royal Navy destroyers to 'man-mark' a fleet of Russian warships lurking off the Scottish coast in a move mocked as an 'overreaction' by Putin's supporters.

Russian military experts have branded the Royal Navy as 'weak' and claimed the UK is 'scared' of Putin's ships - which are expected to pass within just one mile of England.

The Russian aircraft carrier fleet, led by the 1,000ft-long Admiral Kuznetzov, is on its way towards the English Channel as it prepares to join Bashar al-Assad's bombing campaign in Syria, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.

HMS Duncan - the world's most advanced air-defence destroyer – sailed from Portsmouth last night to join frigate HMS Richmond, which has intercepted the Kuznetsov task group of eight ships.

As well as the Royal Navy, the Royal Norwegian Navy, Finnish Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy have vessels surrounding the North Sea.

Despite this response, one Moscow defence expert claimed Vladimir Putin is ready to 'seize control' of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic as he boasted about Russia's sea power while branding the Royal Navy 'tiny'.

Russian pilots conducted flight operations from the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier, pictured yesterday belching smoke, with the nuclear-powered Peter the Great guided missile cruiser shadowing in the background

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