A Russian warship has fired a warning shot at a British yacht in the English Channel. The incident occurred at approximately 11:40 AM on Tuesday in waters between the Isle of Wight and Normandy, according to the Press Association.
Details of the Incident
The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich is believed to have fired on a UK-registered civilian yacht that came within close proximity. Those aboard the British yacht contacted French authorities, alleging that the Russian Navy vessel discharged a warning shot at a distance of roughly 500 yards. The shot was reportedly fired about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters.
Response from Authorities
British and French ships are reportedly mobilizing in response to the incident. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson stated: "We are investigating reports of an incident in the Channel." The MoD confirmed that the Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey was monitoring the Russian frigate at the time of the incident. No injuries or damage have been reported, and the yacht is understood to be continuing its journey.
Context of Rising Tensions
This event occurs amid heightened 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.
