A British woman onboard a yacht in the English Channel, near which sailors on a Russian warship fired warning shots to 'prevent a possible collision,' described the incident as 'a bit scary.'
Incident Details
Jane Kelvey, 68, and her husband Alan, 70, were traveling on their 40-foot yacht, Bright Future, from the south coast of England toward France when shots were fired multiple times from the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich.
'It was a bit scary,' Mrs. Kelvey told The i Paper. 'I crouched down. I didn't think our safety was in danger. But it was certainly unusual. As we sailed away, we said to each other, what the hell just happened?'
MoD Response
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that the Russian vessel fired warning shots after attempting to contact the yacht, which was about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters.
An MoD spokesperson said: 'These (shots) were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision.' The warship had been drifting rather than maneuvering under power, it is understood.
Couple's Reaction
Mrs. Kelvey, who retired in 2023 alongside her husband, described the shots as 'totally unnecessary,' adding: 'We didn't have any contact from them (Admiral Grigorovich) on our radio.'
Russian warships passing through the English Channel are routinely shadowed by the Royal Navy. Offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey was monitoring the Admiral Grigorovich at the time of the incident on Tuesday.
The British couple contacted the UK Coastguard, after which a boat from HMS Tyne, another patrol vessel, was sent to the yacht to gather details and ensure their safety.
Official Statements
The MoD spokesperson added: 'We assess that this is an isolated incident and not linked to the UK's interception of the Smyrtos this weekend.'
A translation of a statement posted on the Telegram channel for the Russian defence ministry said the yacht had been on a 'dangerous approach' and that warning shots were fired after attempts to draw the crew's attention through signal flares and sound signals. It stated that the Russian sailors acted 'in strict accordance' with international shipping regulations. The Russian statement named the couple's yacht, noting it was en route to Cherbourg, France.
