UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on June 17 described the incident in which the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots to divert a British-flagged yacht near UK waters as 'alarming' and 'reckless'. However, he insisted the case was unrelated to the UK's seizure of an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet' in the English Channel on June 16.
The incident occurred on June 15, when a yacht carrying a British couple was fired upon by a Russian warship. Russia's Defense Ministry said the crew of the Admiral Grigorovich detected the yacht Bright Future heading on a collision course. After multiple unsuccessful communication attempts, the Russian warship fired warning shots about 37 kilometers south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters. Moscow affirmed the shots were not aimed at the yacht and were intended to prevent a collision.
Alan Kelvey, 70, who was onboard with his wife Jane, denied any collision risk, calling Russia's statement 'the usual lies'.
The UK Defense Ministry described the incident as 'isolated' and not linked to the June 16 seizure of an oil tanker connected to Russia, suspected of breaching sanctions. It was the first such action by British forces.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, PM Starmer said the incident did not indicate 'anything more sinister', but 'it cannot be denied that Russia is being aggressive across Europe'. He stressed: 'We are seeing the war in Ukraine enter its fifth year, clear Russian aggression and state-sponsored attacks across Europe.'
Starmer also said G7 leaders agreed to increase pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Russian warships passing through the English Channel are routinely monitored by the Royal Navy. The patrol vessel HMS Mersey was shadowing the Admiral Grigorovich at the time.
The UK, along with other Western nations, has banned ships linked to Russia's 'shadow fleet' from entering ports and prohibited British companies from providing insurance, brokerage, or financial services to Russian oil tankers. Oil remains a key revenue source for Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
