Russian frigate fires warning shots at British yacht in English Channel?

The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating allegations that the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots this morning at a distance of less than 500 metres from a British yacht sailing just over 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight, the British newspaper The Guardian reports.

No injuries or damage were reported from the yacht, a recreational craft, and it continued its journey. A boat from the patrol ship HMS Tyne visited the yacht to gather details and check that the crew were safe, the Guardian reported in an article on its website.

The incident came just days after the United Kingdom seized the Russian-linked oil tanker Smirtos off the coast of the Isle of Wight, marking the first time British forces have led the seizure of a sanctioned vessel since the start of the war against Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence said: "We are investigating allegations of an incident in the English Channel."

The Guardian writes that sources from the Ministry of Defense stated that initial indications indicate that warning shots were fired after a recreational yacht approached a Russian warship in international waters, outside the 12-nautical-mile limit of British territorial waters, late in the morning.

The frigate "Admiral Grigorovich" had previously sent a warning, but the yacht initially did not respond, after which shots were fired.

Given the circumstances of the incident, sources say they are currently treating it as an isolated incident, unrelated to the British interception of the tanker "Smirtos." They stressed that the shots were not directed at the yacht.

The frigate Admiral Grigorovich has operated near British waters several times this year. The frigate regularly escorted ships of the Russian "shadow fleet" in the English Channel and the North Sea, and refueled off the Suffolk coast to stay close to the United Kingdom.

However, today the British navy could not determine with certainty whether the Russian ship was fully in control of its movements, which prompted speculation that it may have suffered a mechanical failure or been in difficulties at sea, writes the Guardian.

When sailing near British territorial waters, the Russian ship is usually escorted by Royal Navy vessels. At the time of the incident, the frigate was being monitored by HMS Mercy, another high seas patrol ship.

Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said the incident was "deeply concerning" and that the UK "must be in no doubt that Russia poses a direct threat". In the UK, the largest opposition party forms the so-called Shadow Cabinet. Its members monitor the work of the relevant ministers in the government, criticise their actions and present alternative policies. Cartlidge is therefore not a member of the government and does not have executive powers, but is an opposition politician in charge of defence. He comes from the current opposition Conservative Party

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman James McCleary said: "Reports that a Russian warship has fired warning shots in the English Channel are deeply concerning. Russia is literally on our doorstep. Aggression and intimidation in our waters must not be tolerated."

This ship is the first of its class of frigates, almost 125 meters long, with a crew of up to 220. Its 100-millimeter main gun can fire 80 shells per minute to a distance of more than 20 kilometers and engage multiple targets simultaneously.

Incidents of gunfire at sea are extremely rare in peacetime, although warning shots are considered a legitimate means by which navies deter other vessels from approaching. However, it is not known when shots were last fired in the English Channel as part of a naval incident.