A British couple whose yacht was targeted by warning shots from a Russian warship in the English Channel have accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of attempting to 'close down' their account of the event. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident on Tuesday as 'reckless' but not 'sinister'. The MoD has stated that sailors aboard the frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired several warning shots near the yacht Bright Future, crewed by Jane and Alan Kelvey, after the vessel came too close to the warship. The department claims the Russian crew attempted to contact the Kelveys by radio before firing.
Disputed Account
Speaking to the Telegraph on Wednesday, Mr. Kelvey, 70, contested the official narrative. He stated, 'The MoD are saying they got us on the radio. Our radio, we were right next to it. It didn't come on our radio.' He further accused the MoD of trying to suppress the story, alleging they claimed it was foggy and that flares were used. 'It's rubbish,' he said. Mr. Kelvey insisted he and his wife saw no flares and denied any visibility issues, asserting that both vessels could see each other clearly.
Prime Minister's Remarks
While attending the G7 summit in Evian, France, Sir Keir Starmer commented on the incident, stating it 'shouldn't have happened' and describing it as 'reckless'. However, he noted that the MoD's assessment indicated the warship was drifting, rather than anything more sinister. He acknowledged Russia's aggressive posture across Europe but appeared to downplay the severity of this specific event.
The Russian defence ministry claimed the yacht was following a 'dangerous course' and asserted that the Admiral Grigorovich used flares and sounded signals before firing warning shots 'in strict accordance' with shipping regulations. The incident occurred outside UK territorial waters, south of the Isle of Wight, amid heightened tensions following the seizure of the 'shadow fleet' oil tanker Smyrtos on Sunday. The Admiral Grigorovich, which has previously escorted sanctioned vessels through the Channel, was being monitored by the patrol ship HMS Mersey at the time.
Downing Street Response
When asked about the couple's allegations, a Downing Street spokeswoman pointed to the MoD's assessment that it was an isolated event. She referred to the Prime Minister's comments that it was 'concerning' and 'reckless,' and reiterated that Russia is an aggressor across Europe. Downing Street appeared to rule out further action against Russia, such as summoning the ambassador, stating that HMS Mersey was shadowing the ship and that the UK is willing to stand up to Russia when necessary, as demonstrated by the interception of a Russian shadow fleet vessel over the weekend.
