A Russian warship carried out a live-fire artillery exercise 40 miles off the coast of Plymouth on Monday, prompting monitoring by the Royal Navy. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Navy is continuing to track the vessel’s activity closely.
Details of the Exercise
The Russian frigate, Neustrashimy, informed the HMS Tyne – a Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel – of its intentions to fire. A French military aircraft also made radio contact with the warship to clarify its intentions. According to the BBC, the HMS Tyne was asked to move to a safer distance while the exercise took place, which lasted 30 minutes.
Broader Context of Russian Naval Activity
This incident is one of several involving Russian ships near UK waters this year. Last month, a 'shadow fleet' oil tanker was spotted in the Channel. Royal Marine Commandos boarded that tanker in a six-hour operation, the first of its kind by UK armed forces. Russian warships regularly pass through international waters in the Channel without entering UK or French territories.
UK defence sources reportedly declined to comment to the BBC on whether the timing of the exercise was linked to Andy Burnham’s arrival at Downing Street.
