The Russian ship photographed beside HNLMS Evertsen in the Sultan Qaboos port in Muscat, Oman

A Russian spy ship has been pictured tracking the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier off the coast of Oman in a rare sighting.

The vessel was seen in Muscat berthed alongside a Dutch frigate that has accompanied HMS Queen Elizabeth and other escort ships on the inaugural deployment of Britain’s new Carrier Strike Group.