Jun 17, 2026 – 9.45amLondon | It narrowly avoided being the sea change from hell. A retired British couple almost triggered a serious incident after sailors aboard a Russian warship fired warning shots at their yacht in the English Channel, at a time of heightened tensions between London and Moscow.While UK military officials insisted the incident was isolated, it comes 72 hours after British commandos intercepted the Smyrtos, a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker that had been sanctioned as part of Western efforts against Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles