Russian warship fires warning shots at yacht in English Channel

Russian warship fires warning shots at yacht in English Channel
Reuters

Russian sailors aboard a naval frigate fired warning shots at a civilian yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday after the vessel reportedly came too close, according to a source familiar with the incident.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the warship involved was the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich.

No injuries or damage were immediately reported, and further details about the yacht or the circumstances surrounding the encounter were not available.

Britain's Ministry of Defence did not immediately comment on the incident.

Tensions remain high in busy shipping route

The reported encounter comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of Russian vessels operating near British waters.

On Monday, the Royal Navy said two British ships had monitored the Admiral Grigorovich as it travelled through the Channel west of the French port city of Brest.

British naval forces routinely track foreign military vessels passing through waters close to the UK.

Tensions rise after Russian tanker seizure

The incident also comes shortly after British commandos intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the Channel.

The operation, carried out on Sunday, targeted a vessel linked to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a network of ships used to transport oil despite international sanctions.

British authorities described the move as part of wider efforts to disrupt revenue streams that help finance Russia's war in Ukraine.

While there is no indication that Tuesday's incident was connected to the earlier operation, it highlights growing tensions surrounding Russian maritime activity in the region.

Officials have yet to provide further details about the warning shots or whether any investigation will follow.

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