Russian warship fires warning shots at civilian yacht in the Channel

A Russian warship allegedly fired warning shots at a civilian yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday, near British territorial waters, according to a Reuters report cited in the article. Britain’s Ministry of Defence said it is investigating reports of the incident, and no casualties were reported.

The episode involved the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, which was being monitored at the time by a Royal Navy vessel, a source familiar with the matter said. A UK-registered yacht said a Russian navy ship fired the warning shots from roughly 500 yards, or 457 meters, away.

The encounter took place about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside Britain’s territorial waters. The report did not say what prompted the yacht’s approach or whether the vessels made any contact beyond the warning shots. Further details are expected to emerge as the British inquiry continues.