A Russian warship conducted a live-fire exercise approximately 46 miles off the coast of Plymouth. The Neustrashimy frigate was accompanied by a Royal Navy vessel during the artillery drill south of Plymouth on Monday. Prior to the live-firing, the Russian frigate informed the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Tyne, about their intention to carry out the gunnery activity. The exercise, which lasted around 30 minutes, occurred in international waters.
The Russian warship requested HMS Tyne to move to a safer distance before commencing the military drill. Additionally, a French military aircraft was reportedly monitoring the frigate at the time. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence stated that a Russian naval vessel, shadowed by the Royal Navy, conducted the live-fire exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth the previous day. The Royal Navy closely monitored the exercise and remains vigilant in tracking the vessel’s activities to safeguard UK national security.
This incident reflects a pattern of increased Russian presence in the waters surrounding the UK in recent months. In a separate event, Royal Marine Commandos boarded a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the English Channel. The operation, which took place on June 14, involved the RAF and National Crime Agency assisting Marines in intercepting and boarding the Smyrtos vessel, which had 24 crew members from Georgia and India onboard.
Following the incident, Keir Starmer emphasized the operation’s success as a setback for Russia and a message to those supporting Putin’s actions in Ukraine. Moreover, a Russian warship targeted a retired British couple aboard a yacht sailing from the south coast of England towards France. The couple, Jane Kelvey, 68, and Alan Kelvey, 70, aboard the yacht named Bright Future, were fired upon by the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich several times while about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, beyond the UK’s territorial waters.
The MoD clarified that the warning shots fired by the Russian vessel were not aimed at the yacht but were a precautionary measure to avoid a potential collision.
