Yacht Drifts Near Russian Frigate, Warning Shots Fired
A British retired couple, Jane and Alan Kelvey, have shared their account of a close encounter with a Russian warship in the English Channel. On Tuesday morning, while sailing approximately 23 miles off the Isle of Wight, their yacht, the Bright Future, came into proximity with the Russian frigate, Admiral Grigorovich. The warship subsequently fired warning shots into the yacht's path, an event the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has characterized as an "isolated incident" unrelated to the recent seizure of a Russian shadow fleet tanker.
Jane Kelvey recounted to BBC Newsnight that the warship initially sounded its horn five times, signaling their presence. The couple adjusted their course to acknowledge the signal. However, a minute later, the warship repeated the five horn blasts, immediately followed by what they believed to be four to five small arms warning shots fired into the air, not directly at their vessel. Jane stated their yacht was "definitely not on a collision course" and that the situation only became an "incident until the gunfire started." Alan Kelvey deemed the gunfire "unnecessary." A Royal Navy vessel reportedly arrived shortly after to check on their welfare.
Conflicting Accounts and Investigation
The couple's account differs from that of the Russian Defence Ministry, which claimed the yacht was making a "dangerous approach" towards the warship. The Russian ministry stated its crew fired into the yacht's path with rifles after multiple attempts to contact it via radio and after launching warning flares. They also asserted their actions were in "strict accordance with international shipping regulations." The MoD, however, is conducting an investigation into the incident.
British officials understand that the small, motor-less yacht had drifted towards the warship in foggy conditions after departing from the UK. It is believed the Admiral Grigorovich may have been attempting to signal that it was drifting and therefore less maneuverable, possibly leading its crew to perceive a higher risk of collision. An MoD spokesperson confirmed, "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." HMS Tyne, a British patrol vessel, dispatched a boat to the yacht to gather details and ensure the crew's safety.
Context of Heightened Tensions
This incident occurs just days after Royal Marine Commandos intercepted a Russian shadow fleet tanker carrying sanctioned oil in the Channel, marking the first such operation by the British military. Russian warships routinely traverse international waters in the Channel and are typically monitored by Royal Navy vessels.
The Admiral Grigorovich had been shadowed by HMS Mersey for several days, a routine operation after its sighting off the coast of Brest, France. On Tuesday morning, British authorities received reports from the yacht's occupants regarding the warning shots, fired from approximately 500 yards (457 meters) away. The event took place about 20 nautical miles (23 standard miles) south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters.
A NATO source previously indicated that the Admiral Grigorovich had been ordered by Moscow to escort shadow fleet vessels through the Channel. The frigate has reportedly been operating in the area for some time, with satellite imagery showing a repair vessel, the PM-82, supplying it in recent months, enabling extended periods at sea. The frigate has previously escorted Russian-flagged vessels, including a submarine and several merchant and support vessels.
James Parkin, a former Royal Navy rear admiral, commented that the use of armed force is a last resort, reserved for self-defense. He suggested it was likely a "miscalculation, rather than a deliberate act." While the MoD has not linked this incident to the tanker seizure, Parkin noted that the seizure was a "huge embarrassment" for Moscow, particularly given the presence of a Russian naval ship in the Channel intended to prevent such occurrences. Amid heightened UK-Russia tensions and recent warnings from departing UK defense ministers about Russia's aggressive behavior, this incident has garnered significant attention.
Source: 'It was surreal': British couple describe having warning shots fired near them by Russian warship