Aren’t these territorial waters of the UK and France
Only for 12 nautical miles from the shore.
So while the article makes it seem like the Russian navy is doing something nefarious, they can by international law be in the English channel like British ships can be of the coast of Russia, as long as they stay past the limit.
Yes they are but because they are a restricted navigation body of water different rules apply. International right of free passage through a strait or channel. During peace time,any nations ships can pass through the English Channel, just as the can through the Straits of Malacca,the Skagerrak or the Bosporus. This is a long standing tradition and recognized by all maritime nations.