A Russian naval vessel fired warning shots at a British yacht in the English Channel after what Moscow described as a dangerous approach toward the warship, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russian officials said the crew first attempted to alert the yacht by launching signal flares and issuing “audible signals.” When the vessel allegedly continued moving closer, the commander of the Russian frigate ordered warning fire from small arms. According to the ministry, the shots were fired from a distance of roughly 500 yards.
The incident is believed to have involved the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, which was sailing about 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) south of the Isle of Wight, outside British territorial waters. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the encounter.
No injuries were reported and neither vessel suffered damage.
The episode unfolded while the Royal Navy was monitoring the Russian warship’s transit through the English Channel. British officials said the offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey was shadowing the frigate at the time, in line with the Royal Navy’s standard practice of tracking Russian naval movements in the area.
