--- title: "U.K. MoD Investigating Reports Of Russian Warship Firing Warning Shots In English Channel (Updated)" description: "The alleged incident involved a yacht and a Russian Navy ship sailing south of the Isle of Wight. The U.K. Ministry of Defence is investigating reports of an alleged incident involving a yacht and a Russian Navy warship south of the Isle of Wight." date: "2026-06-16" modified: "2026-06-16" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick.md" - name: "Howard Altman" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/sea/u-k-mod-investigating-reports-of-russian-warship-firing-warning-shots-in-english-channel" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Royal Navy" - "Russian Navy" - "Sea" - "United Kingdom" --- # U.K. MoD Investigating Reports Of Russian Warship Firing Warning Shots In English Channel (Updated) ![Russian warship fires warning shot at yacht that came near it in English Channel.]() *Crown Copyright* The U.K. Ministry of Defense is investigating reports that a Russian Navy warship fired warning shots near a British-registered yacht in the English Channel, according to a statement provided to *TWZ* today. The reported encounter is the latest in a series of increasingly tense interactions between the United Kingdom and Russia. The incident reportedly occurred around 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, and outside British territorial waters. According to the Ministry of Defense, the initial report came from the crew of the U.K.-registered yacht, which alleged that a Russian warship fired warning shots at a distance of approximately 500 yards. According to the *Press Association*, [the incident occurred]() at around 11:40 a.m. local time, in waters between the Isle of Wight and Normandy. https://twitter.com/ArmchairAdml/status/2066901336378028518?s=20 A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed to us that they are investigating reports of the incident, but stressed that the investigation remains in its early stages. “No injuries or damage have been reported by the yacht, which is continuing its journey,” the spokesperson added. The Royal Navy was already shadowing the Russian vessel when the alleged incident occurred, the ministry confirmed. “HMS *Mersey* was monitoring the Russian vessel at the time. We cannot provide further comment while investigations are ongoing. A seaboat from HMS *Tyne* has visited the yacht to gather details and check that they are safe.” Both HMS *Mersey* and HMS *Tyne* are *River* class offshore patrol vessels, frequently used to shadow Russian and other warships passing through the Channel, which is [widely considered]() the busiest shipping area in the world. ![]() *HMS *Mersey* (foreground) seen here monitoring the Russian frigate *Admiral Grigorovich* (left) and the *Kilo* class submarine *Krasnodar* (center-left) in April of this year. *Crown Copyright** According to unconfirmed reports, the Russian warship said to be involved is the *Admiral Grigorovich*, the lead ship of its class, which is also known to NATO as the *Krivak V* class. The frigate is seen at the top of this story, during an encounter with Royal Navy vessels earlier this year, again in the English Channel. https://twitter.com/_MartinKelly_/status/2066891028099907964?s=20 The Ministry of Defence also sought to distance the incident from [another recent maritime security operation]() in the Channel, in which British forces boarded the *Smyrtos*, a sanctioned shadow-fleet oil tanker, which was sailing under a false Cameroonian flag. The boarding of the *Smyrtos* by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency last Sunday was the first U.K.-led operation of its kind. The six-hour military operation also involved [Chinook](), [Merlin](), and [Wildcat]() helicopters, a Royal Air Force [P-8 Poseidon]() maritime patrol aircraft, as well as the frigate HMS *Sutherland* and the mine countermeasures vessel HMS *Ledbury*. ![14th June - 42 Commando of the UK Commando force conducting maritime interdiction operations on CMR Smyrtos sailing under a false Cameroonian flag. In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia’s best efforts to evade sanctions and continue fuelling its barbaric war with Ukraine. The military operation, which lasted 6 hours, was supported with aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, as well as HMS SUTHERLAND and HMS LEDBURY. The Prime Minister agreed in March that British Armed Forces and law enforcement officers were able to board shadow fleet vessels, in accordance with international law. The SMYRTOS will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns. The enforcement action against this vessel in UK territorial waters was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law.]() *The vessel *Smyrtos* is boarded by Royal Marines from 42 Commando and U.K. law enforcement officers on June 14. *Crown Copyright** It remains unclear exactly which Russian Navy vessel was involved in the incident today, what prompted the alleged warning shots, or whether any communication took place between the warship and the yacht before the incident. We will update this post as we find out more about today’s incident. ***UPDATE: 2:45 PM EDT –*** There is growing speculation that the Russian warship involved in the incident may have suffered some kind of mechanical failure or difficulty at sea. The U.K. Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge said the incident was “very concerning” and the United Kingdom should “be in no doubt that Russia poses a direct threat.” The leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Ed MacCleary, said: “These reports are extremely concerning. Russia is quite literally on our doorstep. Aggression and intimidation from Putin in the English Channel cannot be tolerated.” https://twitter.com/EdwardJDavey/status/2066922348213649903?s=20 ***UPDATE: 2:50 PM EDT –*** [According to *BBC News*](), the Russian frigate *Admiral Grigorovich* fired warning shots after the two vessels came into close contact. The broadcaster further reports that the “small, motorless yacht had drifted towards the warship in foggy conditions after setting off from the United Kingdom.” The *BBC* cites the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying that the yacht had been on a “dangerous approach” towards the warship, and its crew fired into its path “with rifles” after making several attempts to contact it over the radio and after launching warning flares. The Russian Ministry of Defense further claimed that its sailors had acted in “strict accordance with international shipping regulations.” A U.K. government source told the *BBC* that a couple in their 60s were onboard the yacht at the time. They said they did not hear when the Russian frigate sounded its horn. There have also been unconfirmed reports identifying the yacht involved: https://twitter.com/FennellJW/status/2066944230795149422?s=20 ***UPDATE: 2:5***5*** PM EDT –*** Data obtained by *BBC Verify* [suggests]() that the *Admiral Grigorovich* has been in the Channel for an extended period, repeatedly being re-supplied by a repair vessel, so that it can escort shadow-fleet vessels through these waters. Based on satellite images it has reviewed, the *BBC* says the frigate has been re-supplied by the PM-82, an *Amur* class repair ship, while operating between the Channel and the North Sea in recent months. In April, the frigate was reported to have escorted six shadow fleet vessels through the Channel while being monitored by the Royal Navy. https://twitter.com/TomSharpe134/status/2066935966791504252?s=20 ***UPDATE: 3***:00*** PM EDT –*** At least one Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon has transited from its base in Scotland to patrol the Channel this evening, according to publicly available flight-tracking data. The maritime patrol aircraft is very likely tasked wth monitoring Russian naval activity in the area. https://twitter.com/ArmchairAdml/status/2066939906216153450?s=20 More details of the incident have been reported by Deborah Haynes, the security and defense editor at *Sky News*. Haynes writes on X that the Russian frigate “fired a couple of warning shots” close to the yacht in the Channel after also sounding an alert to avoid it sailing too close. Citing an unnamed defense source, Haynes reports that it is understood that the *Admiral Grigorovich* appears to be having difficulty controlling its movements, perhaps due to a propulsion issue. The warning shots “were certainly not fired at the yacht,” the same source said. Additionally, while the *Admiral Grigorovich* has been escorting Russian-flagged vessels through the Channel in recent months, Haynes writes that it was not involved with escorting the *Smyrtos*, which was boarded by British forces at the weekend. https://twitter.com/haynesdeborah/status/2066918351272558761?s=20 ***UPDATE: 3***:0***5****** PM EDT –*** After reaching out to the U.K. Ministry of Defense for more clarification, *TWZ* received the following from a spokesperson: “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.” “We assess that this is an isolated incident and not linked to the UK’s interception of the *Smyrtos* this weekend. HMS *Mersey* has been monitoring the Russian vessel and support has been provided to the crew of the yacht.” “We assess that the *Grigorovich* was displaying to other vessels that it was drifting rather than being manoeuvred under power, which may have made her feel more vulnerable, leading to warning shots being fired.” “We assess that after sounding warnings, the *Grigorovich* fired several warning shots, but these were not aimed at the yacht.” The spokesperson told us that they further assess that the shots fired were single rounds, rather than automatic fire. *Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()