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The British Ministry of Defense has opened an investigation after reports of warning shots being fired by a Russian frigate near a British-registered yacht in the Channel, several British media reported on Tuesday, June 16.
According to AFP, which cites a source close to British Defense, the incident occurred south of the Isle of Wight, outside British territorial waters. The same source specified that it was an isolated event, unrelated to the interception on Sunday of an oil tanker from the Russian “ghost fleet” by French and British forces.
According to the BBC, British authorities received a report from a British-flagged yacht claiming that the Russian frigate Amiral Grigorovich had fired warning shots about 500 yards (457 meters) from the pleasure vessel. The incident occurred about twenty nautical miles (around 37 km) south of the Isle of Wight, between the English coast and Normandy.
“We are investigating reports of an incident in the Channel,” declared a spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence, quoted in particular by the BBC, The Telegraph andThe Guardian.
No finger injuries
According to information fromTelegraphthe yacht concerned was a private pleasure boat which was not sailing under its own power at the time of the facts. Citing military sources, the daily claims that the ship began to drift towards theAmiral Grigorovich.Â
After several warnings asking the yacht not to come any closer, the Russian frigate finally fired warning shots. No injuries or material damage were reported and the boat continued on its way.
For its part, Moscow said that the yacht targeted by the shots was “dangerously” approaching its frigate.
The Guardian reports that a boat from HMS Tyne went to the yacht to gather information and check the safety of its crew. The Russian frigate was also monitored at the time by the HMS Mersey, according to the BBC and the British daily.
The “Admiral Grigorovich” in support of the Russian ghost fleet?
The incident occurs in a context of reinforced surveillance of Russian naval movements in the Channel. According to the BBC, which cites a NATO source, theAmiral Grigorovich would have received the mission of escorting ships of the Russian ghost fleet transiting between the North Sea and the English Channel. The British channel also claims that the building has been operating in the region for several months thanks to logistical support from the PM-82 repair ship.
The Guardian points out that the frigate has regularly escorted Russian ships in the Channel and the North Sea this year, while refueling near the British coast in order to extend its deployments.
Incidents involving shooting at sea remain particularly rare in peacetime. As the Guardian recalls, theAmiral Grigorovich is a frigate nearly 125 meters long that can carry up to 220 sailors and has a 100 mm main gun.
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