Russian aircraft carrier off coast of scotland

The Kuznetsov was being monitored by HMS York 30 miles off the coast of Fife, Scotland, in international waters.



But the Voice of Russia said that its task would be to join an exercise in the Mediterranean.



This will include a visit to Tartus, a Syrian port where Russia has a resupply base.



The news came as the United Nations accused Assad and his regime of the murder of 5,000 of his own citizens.

So far Nato members have ruled out military intervention in Syria
anyway - not least because of the dangerous regional implications of
attacking Assad who is backed by Iran.

Now Assad can be sure, he also has the physical backing of the Kremlin.