Russian Warship Fires Warning Shots Near British Yacht in English Channel

A Russian guided-missile frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, reportedly fired warning shots near a British civilian yacht, the Bright Future, in the English Channel on Sunday. The incident involved small arms fire in the path of the UK-registered sailing yacht, which was carrying a retired British couple.

The Russian defense ministry released a statement indicating that the frigate, operating in the English Channel, attempted to establish contact with the Bright Future using radio, signal flares, and sound signals. According to the ministry, the frigate opened fire after receiving no response and observing the yacht on a "dangerous course." The frigate's commander decided on "preemptive fire at the vessel's course with small arms" after closing the distance to 150 meters.

Jane and Alan Kelvey, the retired British couple aboard the Bright Future, informed the BBC that they were sailing 23 miles off the coast of the Isle of Wight when they encountered the warship. Jane Kelvey stated that the two vessels were not on a collision course. She also noted that the Bright Future adjusted its path after the Admiral Grigorovich issued five horn blasts.

This event follows a separate incident on Sunday where the UK's Royal Marines seized the MV Smyrtos, a tanker suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet, off the southern coast of England. The UK defense ministry, however, stated that the seizure and Tuesday's warning shots from the Admiral Grigorovich were isolated incidents. The Admiral Grigorovich, a 409-foot-long guided-missile frigate commissioned in 2016, has previously been reported escorting shadow fleet tankers in the English Channel. Its main armament includes eight vertical launch cells for land-attack cruise missiles and a 100mm naval gun.

(Source: Business Insider)