[Regnum] The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating the incident in which the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired shots at a yacht approaching it in the English Channel. This was reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
"We are investigating reports of an incident in the English Channel," a British defence source told reporters.
The authors noted that the incident occurred on June 16, approximately 37 km south of the Isle of Wight, outside British territorial waters. Warning shots were fired approximately 460 meters from the UK-registered yacht. The vessel was undamaged and no one was injured.
At the time of the incident, the Russian frigate was escorted by the British patrol ship HMS Mersey.
On June 16, the Russian ship Admiral Grigorovich fired preemptive shots at a dangerously approaching British-flagged yacht in the English Channel. The Russian Ministry of Defense explained that the frigate's crew detected the civilian sailing yacht Bright Future, which was dangerously approaching the ship. The sailors made several attempts to contact the yacht on an international radio channel, but there was no change in course or response.
To attract the yacht's crew's attention, flares were launched and sound signals were sounded, but Bright Future continued its dangerous approach.
After closing the distance to 150 meters, the frigate's commander decided to fire preemptively at the yacht with small arms. Immediately afterward, the yacht changed course and began to move away from the frigate.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the Russian ship's crew acted in strict compliance with international navigation regulations and took all necessary measures to prevent the incident.
According to the British newspaper The Times, the owners of the yacht Bright Future are retirees Alan and Jane Kelvie. The couple said the yacht was approximately 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of the Isle of Wight when they heard "several gunshots."
According to MarineTraffic vessel tracking data, on June 16, just after 4:00 a.m. (6:00 a.m. Moscow time), the yacht departed the port of Lymington on the south coast of Britain and headed through the channel toward France. After the incident, the boat continued south and reached the port of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin around 5:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. Moscow time).
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Zakharova called the Admiral Grigorovich's actions in the English Channel correct.
The crew of the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich did what was necessary in the situation with the British yacht Bright Future in the English Channel. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on June 17.
“The only thing that could be done was done by the Admiral Grigorovich,” Zakharova said on Sputnik radio.
She added that Russia's opponents understand only such actions.
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