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.

UPDATE BELOW.

UK updates on Russian warning shots from drifting frigate

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.

George Allison
George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison
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72 COMMENTS

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    • Not Sailorboy but Smickers!

      Done a bit on sailing yachts (transatlantic) this how thing doesn’t run true if this was a yacht not motor. Need to know a bit more fact
      Done the Channel at day and night under sail and you have to be careful as large boats have to be avoided as busy as you weave your way through
      However law of the sea – Powered vessels manouvere slightly to avoid sail yachts Also radio channel 16 which all boats and vessels listen to was not used? or was it ignored
      Was on a basic large yacht yacht (no motorised winches!) – manpower in the Eighties! – off the Butt of Lewis on the way to the Faeroes and nearly got run down at night by a Russian vessel
      Unresponsive on radio and very rocky as it towered over us as we took emergency avoiding action
      Skipper put it down to vodka – Joke!

  2. 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.

        • Carns has just been on again just as I think he is making sense he spoils it at the end by claiming the Govt is mostly doing a good job🙄

      • 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..?

    • With the way their black sea fleet has performed, they probably saw a sail boat and thought now we are talking, we have a chance against it…50/50 but a chance.

  3. 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.

  4. 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?

      • “Haven’t the UK taken out longterm contracts for 2 65m offshore supply ships with CyanSentinel? Potential Batch 1 River replacements?”
        What is the source for that, Paul?

        • It was a press report naming the offshore support vessels which were acting in a constabulary role in Weymouth where the seized Russian tanker was anchored. Researching govt contracts I found this. I think its the one. As always insert dots where spaces.
          www contractsfinder service gov uk/notice/f93593b6-7557-4aba-a874-a1d45d85c289?origin=SearchResults&p=7

  5. 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.)

        • All a bit of a misunderstanding…

          Russian int. monitoring UK transmissions apparently picked up the following:

          ‘Wait a minute! I’ve had an idea….Half a dozen determined men armed to the teeth with a boat, they could play havoc with the (misheard, background noise) Russkies. What? Do you see it? Swift, silent patrols hitting the enemy where it hurts most, then disappearing into the night, quietly, without a sound, silently. Cutting through the water. Muffled oars, of course.”

    • 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”

    • 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..

    • I think the point here is that the yacht reportedly has no engine, or a failed engine, and the encounter took place in poor visibility and with little wind. If the yacht was only making one or two knots the time to manoeuvre away from a potential encounter is quite long. And even in restricted viz the rule that power gives way to sail still applies. It only changes in restricted waters such as big ships in the Solent.
      Or to put it another way the Russian captain is obviously no seaman, to put the crew to firing rifles as a warning to a yacht smacks of paranoia. As has been said elsewhere on this thread, those damn Ukrainians get everywhere!!

    • It was a boat under sail and it was 500meters from the Russian, depending on wind and tide it’s not so easy as it Seems to just move away, infact the recognition action of you accidentally get within 500 meters of a warship is to slow down and let it move away from you. It’s only if you keep moving towards its and get with 100 meters would you start to see a more significant response and at that point you should be following every instruction as given.

      Also from what I read visibility was poor..

      The Russian warship could see the sailing craft before the sail craft could see it and it would have had a duty to manoeuvre safely…

      I suspect the Russian was being bloody minded and a sail boat needs and sea space the react, let’s say the sail boat was close hauled and the only way the sailboat could safely avoid getting closer to the Russian ship was to tack going into the wind ( the no go zone) if it gets stuck in irons it cannot manoeuvre full stop.. it’s the powered vessel with the high bridge, visibility and powerful navigation radars job to make sure that does not happen.

      I suspect the Russian was being to put it bluntly a cunt or was not paying due attention.

      If you imagine as your sailing across the channel heading to France,the prevailing wing is a south westerly.. so generally to cross to France you are close hauled sailing 40 degrees into the wind.. this allows you to make way towards France.. if the Russians frigate is heading west through the channel and your suddenly 500 meters of his bow ( say 1 points to starboard) as a sail boat you a bit limited in options if you turn away from the wind, your turning towards the frigate, but as your close hauled to the southwesterly, you cannot just turn away from the frigate, you have to tack, going across the danger zone.. and you cannot just tack..it’s a complex evolution.. that you don’t want to mess up.. especially with a 5000 ton frigate heading your way..

      As for a terrorist attack excuse, there is no way on gods earth your intercepting a frigate capable of 30knots in a sail boat.. not unless the frigate runs it over due to an incompetent officer of the watch who makes a mistake or on purpose..

      Quite frankly any decent officer of the watch should have been working to ensure the sailing vessel was not at risk from the frigate.. not shooting at it..

  6. 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

      • I think something could be scrapped together fairly easily in wartime if needed. OWA UAVs would be available for mass. You could probably get a canister launcher system for Sea Venom and park that off the coast of Dover which would cover at least out to France’s waters. With Ukraine-style engineering I’m sure a booster could be added to cover some larger areas to the south and into the North Sea.

        • An ad-hoc system could be build but you need a new UK, not the overregulated entropy of today.

          Yes i know if the establishment feels threatened all rules and regulations disappear in thin air…

  10. 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?

  13. 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…

  14. 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.

  15. 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 .🤔

  16. Well, well.

    Mad Vlad Putrid Putin does it again.

    Invaded UKR and galavanised NATO.

    Fires at a UK vessel and may galvanise STARMITE into DIP action.

    I’ve a funny feeling that the pressure to increase defence spending going to become overwhelming.

    And Mad Vlad has provided the stimulus!

  17. Russia organising an attack on the PMs property and firing in the north sea. Kinda time we did something to say don’t push it matey.

  19. So heavily armed Russian frigate sniffing around IVO of Russian tanker detained by HM Forces fires warning shots. Sounds jumpy and a clear warning of it’s presence and aggressive intent.

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