A Russian frigate fired warning shots within a few hundred meters of a British private yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday, an unusual incident that occurred amid ongoing tensions between London and Moscow.
The event took place shortly before noon more than 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight. The yacht Bright Future came close to the Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich and did not immediately respond to attempts at contact, according to both British and Russian accounts.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the yacht was on a “dangerous course,” that multiple warnings including signal rockets were issued, and that a warning shot was fired after the vessel approached within 150 meters.
British sources indicated more than one shot was fired but stressed the rounds were not aimed at the yacht and were intended to avert a possible collision. No injuries or damage were reported.
The couple on board, retired Britons Jane and Alan Kelvey, continued their journey. A Royal Navy patrol vessel, HMS Tyne, later checked on the pair at sea. Jane Kelvey described the episode as “a bit scary” and “certainly unusual” but said the crew did not fear for their safety. She noted the Russian vessel sounded multiple horn blasts before the warning fire.