UK defence authorities are investigating an incident where a Russian warship reportedly fired warning shots near a British yacht in waters off the UK coast. This maritime confrontation between the Russian military and a UK vessel is considered one of the most direct in recent history, although military officials have downplayed its significance. The incident occurred when the Kremlin frigate Admiral Grigorovitch fired at the sailing vessel in the vicinity of the Isle of Wight and Normandy.
Sources from the UK defence sector have indicated that it is unclear whether the Russian vessel fired live rounds or flares, but it was clearly intended as a warning to the crew of the leisure yacht. The altercation took place 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, beyond UK waters in international or French maritime territory.
The incident follows the seizure of the Russian vessel Smytros by UK elite forces for suspected involvement in smuggling activities. A senior source mentioned that the event was likely unrelated to the Smyrtos incident and occurred in foggy conditions. Speculations suggest that the UK yacht may have approached too close to the Russian warship, prompting the Grigorovich to take action to avoid a potential collision, including sounding an alarm or firing warning shots.
The British yacht crew reported the incident to authorities, leading the crews of two British warships, HMS Mersey and HMS Tyne, to investigate the matter. The Admiral Grigorovitch, equipped with cruise missile capabilities and a variety of weapons, has been active in supporting the Kremlin’s interests, including operations in Syria as part of Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea Fleet.
According to accounts from the sailors on the British yacht, the Russian Navy vessel allegedly fired shots at a distance of 500 yards. Royal Navy sources indicated that both patrol vessels were monitoring the Kremlin frigate west of Brest during the tanker seizure incident. The patrol boats were also in the vicinity during the yacht altercation, which occurred on a Tuesday morning following the seizure of the Russian vessel by UK Royal Marines.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed the investigation into the Channel incident, stating that reports were received from the UK yacht regarding the Russian Navy’s warning shots. No injuries or damages were reported by the yacht, which continued its journey. A seaboat from HMS Tyne was dispatched to ensure the safety of the yacht’s crew.
