Russia taunts US with biggest military offensive since the Cold War, by Ben Farmer.

Russia has begun its biggest surface deployment since the end of the Cold War as it aims to effectively end the war in Syria on the eve of the US election, Nato officials warned last night.

The Kremlin is sending the full might of its Northern Fleet and part of the Baltic Fleet to reinforce a final assault on the city of Aleppo in a fortnight, according to Western intelligence.

The final bombardment is designed to shore up the Assad regime by wiping out rebels – paving the way for a Russian exit from the civil war. …

Royal Navy warships are due to escort a group of eight Russian warships, including the country’s only aircraft carrier [the Admiral Kuznetsov, pictured above], as they sail past the UK on their way to the Mediterranean.