Britain’s Ministry of Defence is investigating reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots at a British-flagged yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday, about 32 kilometers south of the Isle of Wight, outside British territorial waters. No one was hurt, the civilian yacht was not damaged, and it continued on its planned route.
According to a British security source, the Russian vessel had signaled to other ships in the area that it was drifting and not maneuvering under engine power. The source said that may have made the crew feel more exposed and prompted the warning shots. The source also said the fire likely consisted of single rounds rather than automatic fire.
Russia’s Defense Ministry gave a different account, saying the frigate Admiral Grigorovich identified the civilian yacht, Brest Future, as being on a dangerous collision course. After several unanswered radio calls, the crew fired signal flares. When the yacht kept approaching and got to within about 150 meters, the commander ordered warning shots from small arms along its path, and only then did the yacht alter course. Moscow said the crew acted in strict accordance with international maritime rules and took all necessary steps to avoid an incident.
A British Defence Ministry spokesman confirmed the key details and said the warning fire was not aimed at the British vessel, but was an attempt to prevent a possible collision. The Russian warship was being closely monitored at the time by the Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Mersey, as part of routine tracking of Russian warships in the Channel. The incident came two days after Britain intercepted an oil tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet in the same area, though officials said there was no connection between the two events.
