Russian frigate fires warning shots near British yacht in the English Channel

On Tuesday, a maritime incident occurred in international waters approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight. The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots after a UK-flagged yacht allegedly approached the warship on a dangerous course. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the frigate attempted radio contact and used light and sound signals before opening fire with small arms when the yacht reached a distance of approximately 150 meters. Conversely, the yacht reported the shots were fired from a distance of about 457 meters. No injuries were reported, and the yacht changed course immediately following the incident. The British Ministry of Defence confirmed they are investigating the report. The Russian vessel was being monitored by the Royal Navy at the time. This event is considered an isolated incident and is reportedly unrelated to recent British operations targeting a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the same region.