LONDON (AP) — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concerns regarding the reckless actions of a Russian warship's crew following an incident where warning shots were fired near a British yacht in the English Channel. Speaking at the G7 summit in France, Starmer emphasized that while the situation was “deeply concerning,” British defense officials deemed the warning shots as an effort to prevent a collision, rather than indicating a more alarming scenario.
The yacht, a 40-foot (12-meter) sailboat named Bright Future, was manned by British couple Jane Kelvey, 68, and Alan, 70. They reported that warning shots were fired on Tuesday morning while they were crossing the English Channel en route to Cherbourg in France. According to Russia, the crew of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich discharged shots into the air after the yacht did not heed warnings to alter its course.
No injuries were reported in the incident, yet it highlighted escalating tensions between the United Kingdom and Russia. Starmer remarked, “That doesn’t take away from the fact that clearly Russia is aggressive across Europe.” This incident occurred just two days after the UK seized a tanker associated with Russia’s shadow fleet, which is alleged to be circumventing sanctions on Russian oil exports due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The British couple described the frightening moment the shots were fired approximately 20 nautical miles (23 miles or 37 kilometers) south of the Isle of Wight, well outside UK territorial waters. Jane Kelvey recounted the encounter, saying, “It was a bit scary. I crouched down. I didn’t think our safety was in danger. But it was certainly unusual. As we sailed away, we said to each other, what the hell just happened?”
In response to the incident, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that the frigate attempted to contact the yacht upon noticing it was on a “dangerous course” near the warship. According to the Ministry, the crew attempted warning flares and sound signals before ultimately firing warning shots across the vessel's bow when the yacht failed to respond and closed to a distance of 150 meters (500 feet).
After the warning shots were fired, the yacht changed its course and departed the area. Both the UK government and defense officials have downplayed the incident but acknowledged the potential for heightened confrontation in the region. This incident adds to the growing list of confrontations between Russia and Western nations, particularly concerning their political and military postures in Europe amid the ongoing conflicts involving Ukraine.
