British Navy monitors Russian warship firing live rounds near Plymouth

A Russian warship conducted live-fire artillery drills in international waters just 40 miles off the coast of Plymouth, England, on Monday. The frigate, identified as the Neustrashimy, was closely monitored by the British Royal Navy vessel HMS Tyne throughout the 30-minute exercise.

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The Russian frigate Neustrashimy conducted live firing in international waters.

According to the British Ministry of Defence, the Russian crew informed the HMS Tyne of their intention to conduct firing activities before they began. They requested the British patrol vessel move to a safe distance, a request that was reportedly honored. A French military aircraft also observed the frigate and contacted its crew for clarification on its intentions.

This incident is the latest in a series of naval encounters between Russia and the UK. It comes amid increased Russian naval presence in waters near Britain. In June, Royal Marines boarded a tanker associated with Russia's "ghost fleet" in the English Channel. Also in June, a British couple on a yacht encountered the Russian frigate "Admiral Grigorovich" near the Isle of Wight, an event that led to warning shots being fired by the Russian vessel. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed the yacht had approached dangerously, a version disputed by the yacht's owners who stated there was no collision risk.

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The Russian crew informed the British patrol vessel HMS Tyne of their intention to conduct firing activities.

Russian military vessels regularly transit international waters in the English Channel, which are separate from the territorial waters of the UK and France. The Ministry of Defence stated it continues to closely monitor the Russian ship's activities.

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The Russian side requested that the British vessel reposition itself at a safe distance, a request that was respected.