The Ministry of Defence is investigating an incident in which sailors on a Russian warship fired warning shots at a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel, highlighting ongoing tensions with Vladimir Putin's Russia.
The incident is understood to have involved the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters. No injuries were reported, and the yacht sustained no damage during the event on Tuesday.
The crew of the yacht claimed that warning shots were fired at a distance of roughly 500 yards, or 457 metres.
Russian warships passing through the English Channel are routinely shadowed by the Royal Navy. At the time of the incident, the offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey was monitoring the Admiral Grigorovich. A boat from HMS Tyne, another patrol vessel, was dispatched to the yacht to gather details and ensure the crew's safety.
The incident is being viewed as isolated and unrelated to UK actions on Sunday, when Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker, Smyrtos, in the channel.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are investigating reports of an incident in the Channel." The Russian embassy in the UK has been approached for comment.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge described the incident as "very concerning," adding that the UK should "be in no doubt that Russia poses a direct threat." Liberal Democrat defence spokesman James MacClearly said: "Reports of a Russian warship firing warning shots in the English Channel are deeply concerning. Russia is quite literally on our doorstep. Aggression and intimidation in our waters must not be tolerated."
The UK's support for Ukraine and sanctions aimed at crippling Mr Putin's ability to finance his 2022 invasion have contributed to a deterioration in relations with Moscow. The seizure of the Smyrtos was the first such action by British forces, although the UK had previously helped allies target sanctioned tankers.
The captain of the tanker, which was carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with breaching sanctions. Indian national Ajay Pant has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The 38-year-old appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court by video link from Bournemouth police station on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing, during which he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and gave his address as being in India.
