MoD investigating reports Russian warship fired warning shots near yacht in Channel
BBC News 2026-06-16 16:03:03
Context: The Ministry of Defence is investigating reports that a Russian warship, the frigate Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots near a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday at around 11:40am BST. The incident occurred between the Isle of Wight and Normandy, approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters. The yacht reportedly suffered no injuries or damage.
Key Facts
- The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots from around 500 yards (457 meters) away from a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday at around 11:40am BST.
- The incident occurred approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters, and involved a yacht that was being sailed in the area.
- A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed that they are investigating reports of the incident, which was brought to their attention by British authorities who received reports from the UK-registered yacht.
- The frigate Admiral Grigorovich was reportedly being shadowed by the HMS Mersey at the time of the incident, and had been tracked by the HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey over the weekend in a "routine operation" after being spotted off the coast of Brest in France.
- The incident comes days after Royal Marine Commandos intercepted a Russian shadow fleet tanker carrying sanctioned oil in the Channel on Sunday, but British officials do not view the two incidents as being linked.