The Russian warship Neustrashimy conducted artillery training maneuvers 40 nautical miles (about 74 kilometers) south of Plymouth on the 20th of July, writes the BBC.
The Royal Navy carefully watched the maneuvers and continues to closely monitor the activities of the Russian ship. Neustrashimy is also being monitored by a French military aircraft, which established radio contact with the Crimean warship to determine its purpose.
Before opening fire, the warship informed the Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Tyne of its plans to conduct artillery training maneuvers. Neustrashimy requested that HMS Tyne move to a safe distance, which the British did. The Russian forces’ training maneuvers in international waters lasted half an hour.
The incident is a reminder to new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham of the growing Russian naval activity
near British waters. British defense officials have not commented on whether the incident was planned to coincide with the change of prime minister.
In June, British marines detained a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the English Channel. Also in June, a British couple sailing near the Isle of Wight had a near encounter with the Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich. At that time, the warship fired warning shots when, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, the yacht came too close to the warship and a collision was imminent. The sailors, however, claimed that they were not heading for a collision with the Russian ship.
Russian warships regularly transit international waters in the English Channel.
Read also: Russian warship fires warning shots near British territorial waters
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