British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is speaking out after a Russian warship fired warning shots near a civilian yacht flying a UK flag close to British territorial waters, calling the episode reckless and deeply concerning.
The confrontation took place on Tuesday, according to statements released by the defense ministries of both Britain and Russia. Both countries said the shots were intended to prevent a potential collision after the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich was unable to make radio contact with the yacht.
Speaking to BBC News while attending the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Starmer said, “What happened in the Channel was deeply concerning. It was reckless.” He added that his Ministry of Defence concluded the Russian vessel was “drifting, and they were warning shots.”
“That shouldn’t have happened. It is reckless, and the couple on the yacht must’ve been terrified,” Starmer said.
Russia’s defense ministry stated that the frigate’s crew observed the yacht on a path that posed a collision risk. After repeated radio contact attempts went unanswered, the ship fired warning shots — including small arms fire — in front of the yacht’s path. The yacht subsequently changed course and moved away, according to the Russian ministry.
Britain’s defense ministry characterized the event as “an isolated incident” and stated it had no connection to a separate operation over the weekend in which British commandos intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel.
