A Russian Baltic Fleet frigate, the Neustrashimy, carried out a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters roughly 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth on Monday, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed. The Royal Navy monitored the exercise throughout and continues to track the vessel, according to ITV News.
The Russian ship notified the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne of its intention to fire and asked it to move to a safe distance, which HMS Tyne did. A French military aircraft also tracked the frigate during the 30-minute exercise, according to LBC.
The incident fell on the first full day in office for new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who used the occasion to reaffirm British support for Ukraine, according to CNN.
The drill comes amid heightened UK scrutiny of Russian “shadow fleet” activity in British waters. In late March, then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized British forces to detain sanctioned vessels passing through UK waters, and on June 14 Royal Marines and National Crime Agency officers boarded the sanctioned tanker Smyrtos, according to The Insider.
No confrontation was reported during Monday’s exercise.
