Russian Warship Unexpectedly Conducted Live-Fire Exercise in English Channel

A Russian warship unexpectedly carried out a live-fire exercise using live ammunition in the busy English Channel on Monday, an act described by British defense sources as a clear provocation. The Russian frigate Neustrashimy alerted the British naval vessel HMS Tyne, which was monitoring it, to its plans for the drill.

The Neustrashimy requested the Tyne to move back, and the British ship retreated to about five nautical miles away. The Russian frigate then proceeded with its exercise approximately 40 nautical miles (75 kilometers) off the coast of Plymouth. The drill lasted for about half an hour. The specific weapons used by the Neustrashimy, whose main gun is a 100mm cannon, were not confirmed by the British Ministry of Defence.

While conducting exercises with live ammunition is legal in international waters if safety regulations are followed, the location chosen for this drill is highly unusual. The English Channel is a major shipping route, and such exercises are typically held in the open sea. British defense sources noted that this action is particularly provocative, especially given the context of ongoing tensions between Russia and the UK.

“

Such exercises are usually held in the open sea.

This incident follows a series of maritime encounters between the two nations. In March, Russia reacted strongly to Britain's decision to allow the seizure of sanctioned Russian oil tankers. In mid-June, British forces boarded a Russian vessel for the first time. Later that month, the crew of a Russian frigate fired warning shots with small arms in the Channel after a sailboat approached too closely.

Former Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, Richard Dannatt, suggested to The Telegraph that the exercise was a display of Russian military strength. He noted that the timing, coinciding with a significant political event in Britain, was likely not accidental. The Neustrashimy, a 130-meter-long frigate, is part of Russia's Baltic Fleet.

“

Putin wants to show that Russia has muscles to show off. It is not entirely coincidental that a Russian warship decides to hold an artillery exercise on the same day that Andy Burnham takes office [as prime minister].