On Tuesday, the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots at a UK‑registered, motor‑less yacht, roughly 500 yards (457 m) out, after the vessel drifted into its path during foggy conditions. The yacht, which had set off from the UK, was forced to move away following audible warnings from the warship, yet no injuries or damage were reported.
The incident occurred near 11:40 am BST between the Isle of Wight and Normandy, outside UK territorial waters and about 20 nautical miles (23 miles) south of the island, as noted by the British military’s Ministry of Defence.
While the Ministry of Defence says it is investigating the incident, officials have indicated that it is not linked to the Royal Marine Commandos’ earlier interception of a Russian shadow‑fleet tanker carrying sanctioned oil.
Admiral Grigorovich had been shadowed by HMS Mersey and HMS Tyne during the weekend, part of routine monitoring after the vessel was spotted off Brest, France. Analyses suggest it has regularly escorted Russian vessels and received supplies from a repair vessel, the PM‑82, that have kept it operational for extended periods.
This event occurs amid escalating tensions between the UK and Russia as the latter is accused of orchestrating covert operations in the Channel to move sanctioned oil and redirect supplies to allies. The British Navy’s discovery of the PM‑82 delivering essential provisions to Admiral Grigorovich underscores Russia’s intent to maintain a continuous presence in the strategic waterway.
