A Russian warship has opened fire just 46 miles from Plymouth, carrying out a 30-minute live-fire artillery exercise while being shadowed by a Royal Navy vessel.
The frigate Neustrashimy conducted the exercise in international waters south of Plymouth on Monday, after informing the HMS Tyne – a Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel – of its intention to carry out gunnery activity. The Russian warship asked HMS Tyne to reposition to a safer distance, which it did. A French military aircraft also monitored the exercise, making radio contact with the Neustrashimy to ask it to clarify its intentions.
“Russian frigate Neustrashimy opens fire 46 miles off Plymouth in 30-minute exercise shadowed by Royal Navy.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday. The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security.”
The incident is the latest in a string of Russian naval activity near UK waters. Last month, Royal Marine Commandos boarded a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the English Channel in a six-hour operation – the first of its kind by UK armed forces. At the time, then-PM Keir Starmer said: “This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.”
In June, a Russian frigate – the Admiral Grigorovich – fired warning shots near a retired British couple, Jane and Alan Kelvey, on their 40ft yacht 23 miles south of the Isle of Wight. Russia’s defence ministry called the couple’s approach “dangerous”, but the Kelveys insisted they were “definitely not on a collision course”. Mrs Kelvey told Newsnight the gunfire was “totally unnecessary”.
UK defence sources declined to comment to the BBC on whether the timing of Monday’s exercise – the first day of Andy Burnham’s premiership – was deliberate. Russian warships regularly pass through international waters in the Channel, which are separate from UK and French territorial waters.
The Neustrashimy remains under Royal Navy watch as it continues its transit through waters that have become an increasingly visible flashpoint between London and Moscow.