The Ministry of Defence confirmed a Russian naval vessel conducted a live-fire weapons exercise less than 50 miles off the coast of a UK city, while being monitored by one of our own warships09:57, 21 Jul 2026Updated 15:51, 21 Jul 2026A Russian warship has opened fire off the UK coast in an exercise that took place just 46 miles away from the port of Plymouth.‌The frigate, Neustrashimy, was shadowed by a Royal Navy vessel when it carried out the artillery manoeuvre south of Plymouth on Monday. Before the live-firing exercise the Russian frigate told the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Tyne, about their intention to carry out the gunnery activity. The firing lasted for around 30 minutes and took place in international waters.‌The Russian warship had asked HMS Tyne to move away to a safer distance before it carried out the military exercise. This frigate was reportedly also being monitored by a French military aircraft at the time.‌A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday."The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security."‌New Defence Secretary Wes Streeting called the incident, which happened on the same day Andy Burnham entered Government as Prime Minister, "performative and irresponsible".Streeting was today asked for his response to the incident and told reporters: "We should see yesterday's events as performative and irresponsible. It's not the first time that Russia has behaved like this, and frankly, it's the tip of the iceberg of the daily threats that this country faces and our allies face.‌"Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government and this Prime Minister, our resolve to stand against Russian aggression in Ukraine, but also Russian aggression against all of our allies."This incident is another example of increased Russian activity, in the waters surrounding the UK, in the past few months. Royal Marine Commandos last month boarded a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker for six hours.The vessel had been in the English Channel, in the morning of June 14, and the RAF and National Crime Agency assisted in the operation which saw Marines intercept and board the Smyrtos vessel. The NCA said 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, we onboard.‌At the time, Keir Starmer said: "This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide."A Russian warship also targeted a retired British couple on a yacht, who had been travelling from the south coast of England towards France. Jane Kelvey, 68, and her husband Alan, 70, were on their 40ft yacht, Bright Future, were fired several times from the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich.The MoD said the Russian vessel fired warning shots after making attempts to contact the yacht, which was about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside the UK's territorial waters.Article continues belowAt the time, an MoD spokesperson said: "These (shots) were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision."