These are the first pictures showing the moment a Russian warship opens fire off the coast of Plymouth. Just one day after Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, the Russian frigate Neustrashimy conducted a live-fire exercise 40 miles south of the city on July 20. Royal Navy ships were mobilised to monitor the vessel in the English Channel after it has 'repeatedly transited' UK waters to escort Moscow's shadow fleet oil tankers. Now, images released by the Royal Navy show the moment Neustrashimy opens fire off the coast in what was thought to have been a 'warning' to Mr Burnham just 24 hours after he became PM. Neustrashimy was shadowed by HMS Tyne, an offshore patrol vessel, while a French military aircraft also monitored the warship and made radio contact to request clarification of its intentions. Before opening fire, the frigate informed HMS Tyne that it intended to conduct gunnery exercises and asked the Royal Navy patrol vessel to move to a safer distance, which it did.The live-fire drill lasted around 30 minutes and took place in international waters at around 9am on July 20. Marine Nationale, the French navy, also released images of Neustrashimy stating its ships were tracking the Russian vessel across the region too. The Russian warship Neustrashimy is pictured firing its naval guns in an exercise 40 miles off the English coast last month The vessel has 'repeatedly transited' UK waters to escort Russian shadow fleet oil tankers Marine Nationale, the French navy, has also been involved in operations tracking NeustrashimyA spokesperson said: 'In the North Sea, an offshore patrol vessel ensured the tracking of the Russian frigate Neustrashimy. 'This shadowing operation is part of the permanent surveillance of French and European maritime approaches.Neustrashimy's live-fire exercise came after Royal Marine Commandos boarded the Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel in June, marking the first mission of its kind carried out by the UK Armed Forces.Video released by the Ministry of Defence showed helicopters intercepting the vessel off the Dorset coast on June 14 in the first operation of its kind. The Royal Navy said on Saturday that it is 'stepping up' its monitoring of Russian movements in UK waters and the North Atlantic after the live-fire exercise. Last month, British warships and helicopters spent 21 days on operations tracking Moscow's maritime activity in the region. The Royal Navy said its own monitoring activity had increased 25 per cent across the first seven months of the year compared to 2025. HMS Tyne, HMS Somerset, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn spent three weeks reporting Russian movements alongside Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin submarine hunting aircraft. Neustrashimy was shadowed by HMS Tyne, an offshore patrol vessel. Pictured: A view of the Russian warship from a British vessel The live-fire drill lasted around 30 minutes and took place in international waters on July 20, just once day after Andy Burnham became Prime Minister Neustrashimy's armaments include a 100mm gun, Kashtan CIWS, Kinzhal SAMs and Torpedoes