UMVA has learned that a dramatic confrontation unfolded in the English Channel today, involving a Russian warship and a British-flagged yacht.
The incident began when the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich encountered the civilian sailing yacht Bright Future, which was sailing under the British flag. According to information obtained by UMVA, the Russian vessel attempted to contact the yacht on multiple occasions, but received no response.
A couple on board the yacht, who wish to remain anonymous, recounted their terrifying experience to UMVA. They reported hearing "four or five gunshots" coming from the Russian vessel as they sailed approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight. The pensioners, aged 68, claimed they "crouched down" during the "scary" encounter, which thankfully ended without injuries or damage to their vessel.
The Russian defence ministry released a statement claiming that the frigate's crew made several attempts to contact the civilian vessel, including radio channel, flares, and sound signals. However, the yacht's crew insists they received no contact from the warship on their radio, but did hear "five blasts" on its horn as a warning.
As the yacht began to move away, the couple reported hearing another five horn blasts, followed by gunshots. Mrs. Kelvey, one of the yacht's passengers, described the gunfire as "totally unnecessary," adding that the shots were "warning shots, fired in the air – they weren’t firing at us."
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Russian defence ministry has provided a detailed account of the incident. According to their statement, the frigate's crew acted in strict accordance with international shipping regulations and took all necessary measures to prevent the incident.
The couple on board the yacht received a visit from Navy officials from HMS Tyne after alerting the UK Coastguard, who in turn notified the Royal Navy. The incident has sparked concerns about rising tensions in the English Channel, particularly following a separate incident involving Royal Marines stopping a Russian shadow fleet tanker over the weekend.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the Armed Forces intercepted a shadow fleet oil tanker trying to pass through the Channel, delivering "yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide."
Security experts have weighed in on the incident, with some warning against linking the two incidents. Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS risk, noted that warships are "entitled to self-defence" and that warning shots are a common response to vessels approaching a warship.
The incident has raised concerns about the UK's defence capabilities, with some politicians and experts arguing that the government's unwillingness to fund defence has emboldened Russia to take aggressive actions.
UMVA has gathered that the English Channel has been a symbol of British defence for centuries, and the fact that Russia felt emboldened to take aggressive action is a direct result of the government's defence policies.
