A British retired couple say they were left shaken after a Russian warship reportedly fired warning shots near their yacht while sailing in the English Channel.
Alan Kelvey, 71, and his wife Jane, 69, were travelling aboard their yacht when they encountered the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich in international waters, about 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight.
The couple had set sail early in the morning from Lymington and were later escorted to safety after raising an alarm and requesting assistance from maritime authorities.
According to their account, several bursts were heard from what appeared to be small arms fire at a distance of around 500 yards from their vessel. They said they immediately changed course after hearing repeated warning signals.
Although visibly shaken, the pair said they remained composed and were later able to continue their journey towards France, where they arrived safely in Cherbourg and were met by French authorities.
Jane Kelvey described hearing horn blasts and gunfire coming from the Russian ship, adding that they were not sailing towards the frigate at the time of the incident. Her husband also confirmed they had no radio contact with the warship during the encounter.
Royal Navy vessels were reportedly deployed to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of the civilian yacht, while a second patrol craft moved in to provide additional support.
Defence sources have suggested the Russian vessel may have been experiencing operational issues at the time, though officials have described the incident as highly unusual.
The Russian defence ministry, however, stated that the yacht had been on a “dangerous course” towards the frigate and claimed warning measures were taken in accordance with maritime safety regulations.
UK defence officials said the shots were not aimed directly at the yacht, but were intended as a precautionary warning to prevent a potential collision.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions at sea between the UK and Russia, with naval and air assets regularly monitoring movements of Russian vessels in international waters.
