Russian warship fires warning shots near UK-registered yacht in Channel

Russian warship fires warning shots near UK-registered yacht in Channel 45 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Rachel Flynn , Matt Murphy , BBC Verify and Paul Adams , diplomatic correspondent Ministry of Defence The incident on Tuesday involved a Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich A Russian warship fired warning shots near a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday morning after the two vessels came into close contact. The incident, involving Russian frigate the Admiral Grigorovich, happened between the Isle of Wight and Normandy shortly before midday. BBC News understands that the small, motor-less yacht had drifted towards the warship in foggy conditions after setting off from the UK. The Russian Defence Ministry said the yacht had been on a "dangerous approach" towards the warship, and its crew fired into its path with rifles after making several attempts to contact it over the radio and after launching warning flares. It also said its sailors had acted in "strict accordance with international shipping regulations", while the British Ministry of Defence said it was investigating the incident. A UK government source told BBC News a couple in their 60s were on board the yacht at the time. They said they did not hear when the Russian frigate sounded its horn. No injuries or damage have been reported. A boat from HMS Tyne, a British patrol vessel, was sent to the yacht to gather details and check on the safety of the crew. The incident comes days after Royal Marine Commandos intercepted a Russian shadow fleet tanker carrying sanctioned oil in the Channel on Sunday, in the first operation of its kind carried out by the British military. However, it is understood British officials do not view the incident as being linked to Sunday's operation. Russian warships regularly pass through the Channel in international waters and are routinely monitored by Royal Navy vessels. Footage shows Putin aboard Russia's Admiral Grigorovich frigate in 2025 The Admiral Grigorovich was being shadowed by the HMS Mersey. On Monday, the Navy said the Admiral Grigorovich had been tracked by the HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey over the weekend, in what it described as a "routine operation" after it was spotted off the coast of Brest in France. On Tuesday morning, British authorities received reports from the yacht's occupants that the Russian vessel had fired warning shots from around 500 yards (457 meters) away - a relatively near distance by the standards of sea travel. The incident happened around 20 nautical miles - around 23 standard miles - south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters. Last week, a Nato source told BBC Verify that the Admiral Grigorovich had been ordered by Moscow to escort shadow fleet vessels through the Channel. The frigate is understood to have been operating in the area for some time and had been repeatedly re-supplied by a repair vessel. Satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify have shown the repair vessel,