A Russian frigate sailing in the English Channel has reportedly fired at a nearby British yacht. The incident is believed to have taken place at around 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, in waters between Normandy and the Isle of Wight, according to the Press Association.
Details of the Incident
The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich is alleged to have fired warning shots at a UK-registered civilian yacht from a distance of approximately 500 yards. The yacht's occupants contacted French authorities, reporting the incident. The shots were fired about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters.
British and French ships are reportedly mobilizing in response, as reported by the Mirror. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson stated: "We are investigating reports of an incident in the Channel."
Response and Monitoring
No injuries or damage have been reported, and the yacht is understood to be continuing its journey. The Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey was monitoring the Russian frigate at the time of the incident. Additionally, a seaboat from HMS Tyne was dispatched to the yacht to gather details and check on the safety of the crew.
Russian warships passing through the English Channel are routinely shadowed by the Royal Navy. On Tuesday, offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey was monitoring the Admiral Grigorovich.
Broader Context
The incident comes amid rising tensions between the UK and Russia. In a separate operation on Sunday, Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) boarded the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker MV Smyrtos in the channel. However, the MoD is not treating this latest incident as linked to the interception of the MV Smyrtos.
