The Ministry of Defence is investigating reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots near a British yacht in the English Channel, in an incident the UK Defence Journal understands took place around 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, the Ministry of Defence has said.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the department was “investigating reports of an incident in the Channel”, but did not comment further while the investigation continues.
The reports originated from a UK-registered yacht, which alleged that a Russian Navy vessel fired warning shots nearby at a distance of approximately 500 yards. The incident is understood to have taken place about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, placing it outside UK territorial waters, in international waters of the Channel. No injuries or damage are believed to have been reported by the yacht, which is understood to be continuing its journey.
It is understood that the Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey was monitoring the Russian vessel at the time of the incident, and that a seaboat from a second offshore patrol vessel, HMS Tyne, subsequently visited the yacht to gather details and check that those aboard were safe.
The UK Defence Journal understands investigations remain ongoing, and that no further detail is likely to be provided while that work continues.
Crucially, the incident is understood to be viewed as an isolated one, and not linked to the Royal Navy’s interception last week of the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker SMYRTOS. That operation, in which Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers boarded and seized the tanker in the Channel, was the first UK-led operation of its kind against the Russian shadow fleet, and some online accounts had sought to connect the two events, a link that is not believed to exist.
The picture now emerging is more contained, centred on a single encounter between a Russian warship and a civilian yacht in international waters, monitored by the Royal Navy, with the yacht reporting no harm and continuing on its way.
If the account is borne out, the firing of warning shots by a Russian warship in the vicinity of a British-flagged civilian vessel in the Channel would still represent a notable incident, in one of the busiest and most strategically sensitive stretches of water in the world. Russian warships transiting to and from home ports periodically pass through or near the Channel, where they are routinely shadowed by the Royal Navy, and the presence of HMS Mersey alongside the Russian vessel reflects that standing practice of escorting and monitoring foreign warships through waters close to the United Kingdom.
The Admiral Grigorovich is the lead ship of a class of Russian frigates armed with anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and a main gun.
The UK Defence Journal will update this story as the Ministry of Defence’s investigation progresses and as any further detail is confirmed.
Sailorboy. What have you been up to? ⛵️
Honestly, these Russians are crude.
Obviously a Q yacht and was sneaking up on the Orc ship to board it! Now then this is a test for Jarvis right away surely the Orcs can’t justify firing on a civilian yacht?
Yes, great timing.
Not that Starmer gives a toss. I hope he’s utterly humiliated at NATO. 2.68%, already a falicy given the non military spend that is shoved in it, and only by 2030. Back loaded, not 3% as committed to.
Hi M8. Have you seen Healey’s resignation speech it’s just pure dignified, reasoned and honest ! Christ he was my MP I might vote for him.
Let’s face it, the boarding of the shadow tanker was almost certainly approved in a desperate effort to distract from the DIP fiasco.
The problem is that this sort of political posturing, without regard to the potential consequences, is dangerous. It is particularly dangerous given the poor readiness of the RN and given Russian paranoia about a potential Ukrainian attack coming anywhere, and at any time.
What should be concering now is that this “yacht incident” may encourage Starmer to further ramp up the posturing in a desperate attempt to further distract.
CRIKEY.!…This Puts STARMER ON THE SPOT..!
.Hardly a Week after SNUBBING DEFENCE HE Finds Himself OUT ON A LIMB !…
Nor Sure He’s looking Forward to Anothet PMQs..
I’m sure Many In his Party Are Asking the Same Questions as We Are.! ..
CAN HE REALLY MAKE SO MANY MISTAKES…?
And in just 2 Years..?
1) Deny it happened.
2) If 1) fails, blame it on Ukraine.
3) If 1) and 2) fail, blame it on a British false flag.
4) If 1), 2) and 3) all fail, threaten nuclear war and cry about being the victim.
Hence the need for far more properly armed escorts. Whilst this may be a one off, it really shows how the RN is going to have to go back to the Cold War posture of warships patrolling Home waters. The fact that TWO rivers were sent really shows this lack of availability.
Availability of properly armed escorts? Haven’t the UK taken out longterm contracts for 2 65m offshore supply ships with CyanSentinel? Potential Batch 1 River replacements?
Can’t be us. We haven’t ordered for so long I’ve forgotten what it’s like.
Now why would you be dumb enough to sail that close to a Russian warship in the first place?
Some middle class idiots probably looking to take a selfie with the warship in the background
Be silly to lose a frigate to the royal navy all over a insignificant little yacht. Probably too much vodka distributed to the naval infantry on board
Exactly Clunker,
There isnt a warship afloat globally that wouldn’t take reasonable efforts in these high threat terrorist environments- which can be anywhere, anytime- to take defensive actions if felt threatened.
Charges should be brought against the yacht owners to be within 500m of a Warship currently in a war with an enemy actively trying to sink them (not unjustifiably on Ukraines part.)
Charges under what law ?
Ive no idea im not a solicitor.
Reckless sailing?!
And too much sherry consumed on the yacht. “Righto Biggles, pour another one, close in and let’s give the Russkies the two finger salute”
Especially considering how many Russian naval assets have been attacked and not just in Ukrainian waters.
Civvys sailing in their usual waters, they would not have recognised it as Russian. They probably would not have recognised the flag if they saw it.
Depending on wind, they were in a much less position to avoid.
A powered vessel in this case has much more ability to alter course.
These yachtsmen were probably more capable than these conscript sailors.
“These yachtsmen were probably more capable than these conscript sailors.”
Yes, its certainly possible.
Interesting to wait & see if any further info is released..
In the absence of properly armed RN warships or subs, as I have mentioned elsewhere in another post, if the UK is now going to start to mess around with Russian tankers or anything else in the UK Economic Zone, then shore batteries of land-based anti-ship missiles need setting up pronto.
Mr Putin has reserved a special place in hell for the UK as is happy to make an example of us. America basically – at best – will withdraw support for the UK if anything happened. So to act as a deterrent the UK needs to have anti-ship missiles ready to respond, and also to prevent the need to go quickly to nuclear as the only option in an “incident.”
“then shore batteries of land-based anti-ship missiles need setting up pronto.”
There is no such thing in UK TOE
HMS Dauntless is available – send her to shadow – it sends a strong message at least.
Russian ship is better armed for ship to ship combat.
Not at that range, the launch envelope for and SSM is about 1km.
Not sure she’s a very strong message. Somerset on the other hand!
1905 all over again
Ukraine is the 2nd Russia Tsushima?
Fiddlesticks, I did not notice your comment.
Those pesky Russians have a habit of this.
They fired on our trawlers in 1904/5, we had some them.
Oct 1904.
If this was down to some drunk yachtsman, they should be arrested for a maritime equivalent of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace (conduct endangering ships, is it?). Blame must be apportioned and quickly. We can’t allow a slow slide into anarchy, where the Russians feel it’s okay to take pot shots because we do nothing.
On the other hand if this was down to the Russian captain behaving unprofessionally, it’s time to call in the Russian ambassador and tell the Russians the Grigorovich is non grata in British waters. We should have a submarine activated and if Grigorovich doesn’t leave British waters in 24 hours, we should make it clear we will sink the frigate. Might that mean war with Russia? Possibly. We can’t shy away from all the shit that will be stirred up by the Russians if that happens, but hopefully they will take us seriously and will withdraw their warship. What it’s doing, patrolling UK waters is barely innocent passage.
If we don’t draw the line on a Russian warship threatening UK civilian shipping in the Channel, do we even have a line?
According to the article, she was in international waters when she fired on the yacht, not British waters.
The RAF really needs a stand-off anti-ship capability. It’s been a capability gap for quite sometime.
Fair to Say ..Defenceless and Leaderless…????
APPARENTLY: The Russian frigate may be having engine issues and was not able to alter course.
ALSO APPARENTLY: The yacht was drifting, not powered.
Who knows.
Either way, a Frigate should be shadowed by a Frigate…
Trying to be balanced here even as someone who is strongly anti Russian…if a uk warship (yes assuming one is serviceable 🙄) was sailing close to a country we regarded as hostile, then another vessel whose intent is unknown approached and our crew may feel at risk from a sneak attack, would we consider a warning shot appropriate to safeguard themselves?
I don’t question the Russian government’s hostility to us, but based on the intel, propaganda and directions given to the crew, the crew may well have felt a warning shot justified.
Common sense says give a Russian warship a wide berth given the current tensions.
Last time this happened it was against a Type 45 Destroyer in the black sea if I remember rightly back in 2018 .Firing warning shoots at her .Plus aircraft buzzing her .🤔