The British Navy spent almost £1.4 million ($1.7 million) on tracking Russian warships as they journeyed alongside the British coast on their way to Syria.
The operation saw British ships escort the Russian battlegroup southwards from the Norwegian Sea and though the English channel.
The group, which included beleaguered Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, was tracked by Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond.
The mission cost British taxpayers £1,394,000, according information released by regional news outlet The Portsmouth News.
A similar operation is expected when the battlegroup passes through British waters on their way home to their base in northern Russia.
The Russian Navy announced Jan. 6 that the ships would be leaving the Mediterranean, having “completed” their mission in Syria.
The Admiral Kuznetsov was first to leave the region, having faced a number of problems during its deployment.
The ship lost two aircraft after the carrier's arresting gear malfunctioned. The remaining planes were later redeployed to an airfield inland.
