Russian warship fires warning shots at British yacht, UK opens investigation
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Britain's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday it was investigating reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots at a British yacht in the English Channel.
A UK defence source told AFP that the incident took place about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, just outside British territorial waters.
According to the source, the UK-registered yacht reported that a Russian Navy vessel fired warning shots from a distance of around 500 yards. No injuries or damage were reported.
Following the incident, a seaboat from the British naval vessel HMS Tyne visited the yacht to conduct a welfare check. The yacht later continued its journey.
The Defence Ministry said: "We are investigating reports of an incident in the Channel."
Officials said the episode is being treated as an isolated incident and is not believed to be connected to a separate operation carried out by British forces earlier this week.
On Sunday, British commandos boarded the sanctioned oil tanker Smyrtos off England's southern coast in what was described as the first UK-led interception of a suspected Russian shadow fleet vessel. Defence Ministry footage showed commandos descending from a helicopter during the operation.
British authorities later charged the tanker's Indian captain, Ajay Pant, with violating UK sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Pant, 38, appeared before Southampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday via video link from Bournemouth police station. He confirmed his name, date of birth, and residence in India, but did not enter a plea. The court remanded him in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled at Bournemouth Crown Court on July 16.
The reported Channel incident also came as G7 leaders meeting in France agreed to increase pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.