Russian warship fired warning shots near U.K.-registered yacht in English Channel

World·NewRussian warship fired warning shots near U.K.-registered yacht in English ChannelA Russian warship fired warning shots near a U.

K.-registered pleasure yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday, authorities said, an incident that caused no damage but illustrated heightened tensions between the two countries.U.

K. defence ministry investigates incident that unfolded outside territorial watersThe Associated Press · Posted: Jun 16, 2026 4:39 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes agoPlayListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur.

We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Britain's RFA Tideforce, seen in the background, monitors the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich at an unknown location at sea, as seen in a handout image from the U.K.

Royal Navy. (U.K.

Royal Navy/Reuters)Social SharingA Russian warship fired warning shots near a U.K.-registered pleasure yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday, authorities said, an incident that caused no damage but illustrated heightened tensions between the two countries.

Britain's defence ministry launched an investigation after the yacht reported being fired on by a Russian navy vessel about 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres) south of the Isle of Wight, outside U.K. territorial waters.

There were no reports of injuries or damage to the sailing yacht, which continued its journey from the U.K. toward France.

The BBC reported that the yacht, which has no motor, had drifted toward the Russian vessel in foggy conditions.U.K.

military deployed to deter threat to undersea cables amid Russian sub presenceEurope is eyeing France's nuclear shield. Should Canada follow?Russia's defence ministry said the crew of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich tried to contact the yacht when it was seen sailing on a "dangerous course in close proximity with the warship."

It said the ship's crew launched flares and issued sound signals when the yacht did not respond."After the distance had closed to 150 metres, the frigate's commander decided to fire warning shots across the vessel's bow using small arms," the ministry said. It said the yacht then changed course and sailed away.

The ministry said the ship's crew "acted in strict accordance" with international navigation rules to avoid a collision.Britain's account of the incident was similar."Following attempts to contact a British vessel in the channel, the Grigorovich fired warning shots.

These were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision," Britain's defence ministry said in a statement.Russian ship was being monitoredRussian warships passing through the English Channel are routinely shadowed by the Royal Navy, and patrol vessel HMS Mersey was monitoring the Russian ship at the time of the reported incident and provided support to the yacht's crew.WATCH | European efforts to deter Russian aggression:Is Europe rearming for war with Russia?

| About ThatDecember 5, 2025|Duration 14:29Investments are being made across Europe to shore up its defence capabilities in the face of increased Russian aggression and an uncertain defence alliance with the United States. Andrew Chang explores the steps Europe is taking to deter a possible Russian attack. Images provided by The Canadian Press, Reuters and Getty ImagesThe British military said last month that it had monitored the Admiral Grigorovich throughout April as the Russian ship escorted six Russia-linked civilian vessels near the U.

K.The altercation occurred two days after British commandos boarded and detained a sanctioned tanker in the channel that is suspected of being part of the Russian "shadow fleet." British defence officials said they don't believe the two events are linked.

The tanker's captain, an Indian national charged with shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscow's war on Ukraine, was ordered held in jail after appearing Tuesday in court. U.K.

Royal Marine Commandos are seen detaining a sanctioned tanker in the English Channel on Sunday. (LPhot Hutchins/U.K.

Royal Navy/The Associated Press)The British military has had several close encounters with Russian vessels in the region and warned Moscow in November that it was ready to deal with any incursion into its territory after the spy ship Yantar was detected on the edge of U.K. waters north of Scotland.

In April, Britain and Norway said they had tracked a Russian attack sub and two spy submarines operating north of the U.K. for several weeks.

A Royal Navy frigate, aircraft and hundreds of personnel spent weeks following the Russian vessels and prevented them from carrying out "nefarious" activities against underwater infrastructure, then-defence secretary John Healey said.He accused Moscow of using the distraction of the Iran war to ramp up malign activity against Europe. Five years ago, Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots and a warplan