UMVA has learned that a high-stakes incident unfolded in the English Channel today, involving a Russian warship and a British-flagged sailing yacht.
The yacht, named Bright Future, was sailing in international waters when it was intercepted by the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich. According to information obtained by UMVA, the Russian warship fired warning shots in an attempt to alter the yacht's course.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:40am, with the Russian warship attempting to contact the civilian vessel via radio channel, flares, and sound signals. Despite these efforts, the yacht failed to change course, prompting the Russian commander to fire warning shots.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Russian defence ministry has released a statement detailing the incident. The ministry claims that the frigate's crew acted in accordance with international shipping regulations to prevent a collision.
The British government has confirmed that it is aware of the incident, with a Ministry of Defence spokesperson stating that they are "aware of an incident in the Channel".
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the UK-registered yacht claimed that the Russian warship fired warning shots from around 500 yards while the vessels were 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight.
No damage or injuries were reported in the incident, and HMS Mersey, a Navy sea-capable patrol vessel, was said to have been monitoring the Russian warship when the incident occurred.
Another British vessel, HMS Tyne, an offshore patrol vessel, sent a boat to the yacht to check on the passengers and gather information.
The incident comes amid rising tensions in the waterway, following the interception of a Russian shadow fleet tanker by Royal Marines over the weekend.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the Armed Forces successfully intercepted the shadow fleet oil tanker, delivering "yet another blow to Russia" and demonstrating that the UK will not tolerate aggression.
A security expert has warned against linking the two incidents, stating that warships are entitled to self-defence and that such incidents occur frequently worldwide.
However, Lib Dem shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge labelled the incident as "very concerning", emphasizing that Russia's aggression and intimidation in UK waters must not be tolerated.
The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich is equipped with advanced missiles and torpedoes, and has been deployed on missions around the world, including in the Mediterranean.
