Russian frigate fires warning shots at British yacht in Channel

A file photo of the Admiral Grigorovich, which reportedly fired warning shots at a yacht in the Channel. Photograph: MoD Crown Copyright/PA View image in fullscreen A file photo of the Admiral Grigorovich, which reportedly fired warning shots at a yacht in the Channel. Photograph: MoD Crown Copyright/PA Russian frigate fires warning shots at British yacht in Channel Shots fired within 500 metres of vessel near Isle of Wight amid heightened tensions between London and Moscow A Russian warship fired warning shots within a few hundred metres of a British pleasure yacht sailing across the Channel on Tuesday morning amid a period of heightened tensions between London and Moscow. The rare incident took place at 11.40am more than 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight and less than 40 miles north of Normandy, France, when the yacht, identified as the private vessel Bright Future, sailed close to the Admiral Grigorovich and ignored at least one warning. British sources said initial indications were that more than one shot was fired by Russian sailors after the yacht had got close to the heavily armed frigate. “Following attempts to contact a British vessel in the channel, the Grigorovich fired warning shots. These were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision,” the Ministry of Defence said. “We assess that this is an isolated incident and not linked to the UK’s interception of the Smyrtos this weekend. HMS Mersey has been monitoring the Russian vessel and support has been provided to the crew of the yacht.” Russia’s defence ministry said later the yacht was on a “dangerous course” and that several attempts were made to contact it. Signal rockets were fired, the Russians said, but the yacht continued to within 150 metres before a warning shot was fired. View image in fullscreen Russia’s defence ministry said the Bright Future yacht was on a ‘dangerous course’ and that several attempts were made to contact it. Photograph: Bright Future sailing No injuries or damage were reported by the yacht, which continued its journey, the UK said. Those onboard were visited by a boat sent from HMS Tyne, a Royal Navy patrol vessel, to gather details and check the crew was safe. The episode, which took place in international waters, came just days after the UK seized a Russia-linked oil tanker , the Smyrtos, off the coast of the Isle of Wight, the first time British forces have led the seizure of a sanctioned vessel since the start of the war against Ukraine. The captain of the tanker, Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national, was charged with breaching UK sanctions on the export of Russian oil at a magistrates court in Southampton. It was carrying 98,000 tonnes of Russian crude bound for India at the time of its seizure. On Monday, two men, who appear to have operated under the instruction of an online handler with links to Russia, were found guilty of conspiring to carry out an arson attack on property connected to Keir Starmer . On Tuesd