Russian Admiral Grigorovich Fired Warning Shots At UK-Registered Yacht In English Channel

A Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots at a U.K.-registered yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday after the yacht was described by Russia’s Ministry of Defense as making a "dangerous approach" toward the warship.

“Russia confirms warship fired warning shots at UK yacht in English Channel The incident was reported earlier Tuesday, outside U”

ABC News

ABC News reported the incident was reported midday Tuesday about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside U.K. territorial waters, and that no injuries or damage were reported as the yacht continued its journey.

ABC News

The BBC reported that retired British couple Jane and Alan Kelvey said the experience was "surreal" as the warship fired into the yacht’s path, and the couple described the gunfire as warning fire rather than aimed at them.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said the frigate’s crew attempted to make radio contact, launched signal flares and emitted sound signals, and that when the two vessels were about 150 meters apart the commander fired warning shots "from small arms across the yacht's course."

Jane Kelvey told BBC Newsnight that the warship gave out five horn blasts meaning "have you seen us?" and that they immediately turned two degrees to port so the crew could see a deliberate change of course.

She said a minute or so later the warship gave another five horn blasts followed by four to five small arms fire, adding: "That wasn't aimed at us - it was warning fire that went up in the air."

BBC

The BBC also reported that the couple disputed elements of the Russian Defence Ministry’s account that the yacht had been on a "dangerous approach," and it said the ministry described its actions as an isolated incident not linked to the seizure of a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the Channel on Sunday.

In parallel, ABC News said the British military confirmed the Russian warship fired warning shots after attempts to contact the British vessel, with a U.K. Ministry of Defense spokesperson saying: "These were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision."

The incident occurred as the U.K. was dealing with the Russian shadow fleet, with ABC News saying it came after the U.K.’s Royal Navy led an interdiction of a tanker, the Smyrtos, sanctioned for being part of Russia's shadow fleet, in the English Channel over the weekend.

ABC News reported that the U.K.’s defense ministry said it determined Tuesday’s incident was isolated and not linked to the interdiction of the Smyrtos, while the BBC said the Ministry of Defence described it as an "isolated incident" and not linked to the seizure of the shadow fleet tanker.

The Guardian added that the episode took place at 11.40am more than 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight and less than 40 miles north of Normandy, France, when the yacht Bright Future sailed close to the Admiral Grigorovich and ignored at least one warning.

The Guardian also raised the possibility of retaliation, quoting a naval source warning: "If Russia does respond, it is likely to do so in kind," as British sources emphasized that shots were not aimed at the yacht and the yacht received no injuries or damage.