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Russian Warship Holds Live-Fire Drill Within Sight of the UK
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A Russian Navy frigate carried out a live-fire artillery exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km) south of Plymouth, England, on July 20 while being monitored by the Royal Navy.
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According to the BBC, the exercise involved the Baltic Fleet’s Neustrashimy frigate and was monitored by the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tyne. The UK Ministry of Defense said it continues to track the Russian warship’s movements.
The Russian frigate informed HMS Tyne in advance that it intended to conduct live gunnery training and requested that the British vessel move to a safer distance before the exercise began. HMS Tyne complied with the request, and the firing activity lasted approximately 30 minutes in international waters.
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The BBC also reported that a French military aircraft monitored the exercise and established radio contact with the Russian warship, requesting clarification of its intentions before the live-fire drill commenced.
In a statement provided to the BBC, a UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson said the Royal Navy monitored the exercise and continues to “track the vessel’s activity closely.”
The incident comes amid increased Russian naval activity near the United Kingdom, particularly in the English Channel and surrounding waters.
Last month, British forces boarded the Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos during what UK authorities described as the first operation of its kind conducted by the country’s armed forces. The boarding involved Royal Marines and officers from the National Crime Agency as part of sanctions enforcement efforts.
The Neustrashimy frigate has also recently replaced the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich in waters near the UK. The outlet reported that Admiral Grigorovich had spent several months escorting tankers associated with Russia’s shadow fleet through the English Channel.
The incident follows another encounter in June, when the Russian Black Sea Fleet frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots at a British-flagged yacht in the English Channel after what Moscow described as a “dangerous approach.” The vessel had been operating near the UK while escorting tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
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