Russian Warship Conducts Live-Fire Drill Near UK Coast
Royal Navy tracks Neustrashimy as it executes weapons exercise 46 miles from British shores, prompting temporary repositioning of HMS Tyne.
Sarah Connor
A Russian warship conducted a live-fire weapons exercise just 46 miles from the UK coast, operating within international waters.
The Royal Navy tracked the Neustrashimy throughout its operation, continuously monitoring the Russian frigate.
HMS Tyne, a Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, operated nearby and received a request to move away for 30 minutes during the drill.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the Royal Navy maintained constant vigilance over the Russian warship.
The live-fire drill lasted approximately 30 minutes; the warship informed HMS Tyne of its intentions ahead of time.
Beyond the immediate encounter, the Neustrashimy positioned itself near Felixstowe just last week, preceding this latest exercise.
This incident follows a raid last month where Royal Marine Commandos boarded a 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in the Channel.
The Ministry of Defence released video footage of the June operation, showing helicopters, armed forces boarding the vessel, and searches being conducted.
Keir Starmer stated the operation to board the oil tanker proceeded in 'close coordination' with the French.
The Government affirmed the commando raid in UK territorial waters aligned with both domestic and international law.
Days after that commando raid, a British couple reported another Russian warship, the Admiral Grigorovich, fired at them.
The Ministry of Defence stated these warning shots did not target the yacht, but aimed to prevent a possible collision.
Russian activity in the waters surrounding the UK has increased in recent months.
Russian incursions into British waters rose by 30% in two years.
Navy chief General Sir Gwyn Jenkins warned Russian incursions into British waters rose by 30% in two years.
The English Channel, the world's busiest shipping lane, sees approximately 500 commercial vessels transiting daily.
Moscow appeared to have flouted international shipping conventions, which require formal notice to vessels in the vicinity of any live firing activity.
No such advance warning appeared to have been given by the Russian navy; Brittany Ferries stated none of its vessels had been affected but had not been made aware of any 'course changes or advisories from the Russian vessel,' or the British and French authorities.
Lord Dannatt claimed the timing of the drills was 'not entirely by happenstance,' seeing it as a Kremlin assertion of power and a direct challenge.
Mr Putin wants to demonstrate that Russia’s got muscles that it can flex and it’s not entirely by happenstance that that Russian warship chose to carry out a live-fire exercise on the same day that Andy Burnham became prime minister.
He further claimed Mr Putin 'wants to demonstrate that Russia’s got muscles that it can flex and it’s not entirely by happenstance that that Russian warship chose to carry out a live-fire exercise on the same day that Andy Burnham became prime minister.'
Lord West stated the drills aimed to 'provoke' Britain, while Andy Burnham stated the activity by Moscow was a 'message from Vladimir Putin to the new Prime Minister.'
Senior defence figures claimed the Russian test firing was a deliberate move by Vladimir Putin to present a 'challenge' to the UK on the same day that Andy Burnham was assuming office.
Wes Streeting stated the Russian firing exercise off the UK coast was 'performative and irresponsible,' adding that Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government and this Prime Minister.
James Cartlidge stated the exercise highlights the need to increase defence spending, claiming there was 'very obviously a lack of surface ships for the Royal Navy.'