LONDON (AP) — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped forward Wednesday to condemn the crew of a Russian warship for what he called reckless behavior, after the vessel fired warning shots near a British sailboat in the English Channel — though he suggested the situation was less alarming than it might appear.
The 40-foot sailboat involved, named Bright Future, was making its way across the English Channel toward Cherbourg, France, early Tuesday morning when its owners say they encountered a Russian warship that fired shots in their direction. Russia’s account confirms that the crew of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich discharged rounds into the air after the sailboat reportedly ignored repeated warnings to alter its path.
Nobody aboard was hurt, but the confrontation has drawn fresh attention to the growing friction between the United Kingdom and Russia.
Starmer, speaking from the G7 summit being held in France, described the incident as “deeply concerning,” while also noting that British defense officials had determined the shots were not “anything more sinister” than an attempt to prevent a collision between the two vessels.
“That doesn’t take away from the fact that clearly Russia is aggressive across Europe,” Starmer said.
The episode unfolded just two days after Britain seized a tanker linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet — a network of vessels that Western nations allege is used to dodge sanctions placed on Russian oil following the invasion of Ukraine. The UK has also leveled accusations at Russia of running a campaign of sabotage and disinformation aimed at destabilizing European countries that back Ukraine.
The British couple on board the Bright Future, Jane Kelvey, 68, and her husband Alan, 70, said the shots were fired roughly 20 nautical miles — about 23 miles or 37 kilometers — south of the Isle of Wight, in waters outside UK territorial boundaries.
Jane Kelvey described the moment to the i Paper: “It was a bit scary. I crouched down. I didn’t think our safety was in danger. But it was certainly unusual. As we sailed away, we said to each other, what the hell just happened?”
Russia’s Defense Ministry offered its own version of events, stating that the frigate’s crew had spotted the yacht traveling on what it called a “dangerous course in close proximity with the warship.” According to the ministry, the ship launched flares and sounded audio signals when the yacht failed to respond.
“After the distance had closed to 150 meters (500 feet), the frigate’s commander decided to fire warning shots across the vessel’s bow using small arms,” the ministry stated, adding that the yacht then changed direction and departed the area.
