Britain monitors Russian warship's military exercise off Plymouth

Britain monitored a live-fire military exercise conducted by a Russian warship off the coast of Plymouth, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated.

An MoD spokesperson said the drill took place on July 20 in international waters about 40 nautical miles (46 miles) south of Plymouth and involved the Russian frigate Neustrashimy, which has been escorting Russian "shadow fleet" oil tankers through the English Channel, Caliber.Az reports, citing Sky News.

"A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday," the spokesperson noted.

According to him, the Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel's activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security.

The ministry added that Neustrashimy notified HMS Tyne in advance of its planned gunnery exercise and requested that the British patrol vessel move to a safer distance before firing began. HMS Tyne complied, and the exercise lasted around 30 minutes.

The incident marks the second time in recent weeks that a Russian warship has escorted a so-called shadow fleet tanker through the English Channel.

Earlier this month, Sky News observed Neustrashimy being refuelled in the North Sea by another Russian naval vessel.

Last month, the frigate Admiral Grigorovich, which previously escorted a shadow fleet tanker through the Channel, reportedly fired warning shots at a British couple sailing a yacht.

During the same month, UK authorities detained the captain of another Russian shadow fleet tanker on charges of breaching sanctions. Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded and seized the vessel after arriving by Chinook helicopter in the English Channel, about 25 miles south of the Isle of Wight.

Earlier in June, the French Navy, with support from British forces, intercepted another sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia.

In March, British forces also assisted France in seizing the Mozambique-flagged tanker Deyna in the Mediterranean. The vessel had been sanctioned by both the United Kingdom and the European Union for its alleged role in transporting Russian oil.

That same month, then-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer authorised British forces to seize shadow fleet vessels, a move that reportedly prompted many such ships to avoid the English Channel.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov