Incident at Sea Near the Isle of Wight
A retired British couple has described a frightening and “surreal” experience after a Russian warship fired warning shots near their yacht in the English Channel. The couple, Jane and Alan Kelvey, were sailing about 23 miles (37 km) off the Isle of Wight in international waters when they encountered the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich.
They said the situation escalated quickly, though they insisted they were not on a collision path with the warship.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Jane Kelvey said the warship first signaled with five horn blasts. The signal is commonly understood as a request to confirm visibility.
The couple responded by adjusting their course slightly to show they had seen the vessel.
Shortly after, the warship repeated the horn signal. Moments later, the crew reportedly fired several small arms shots into the air.
Jane Kelvey said the shots were not aimed at their yacht but were warning fire. After the incident, they changed direction again and moved away using their motor.
Claims From Both Sides
Russia’s defence authorities said the yacht had approached the warship in a dangerous way. They stated that crew members followed international navigation rules and tried to communicate before using warning measures, including flares and radio contact.
The British couple strongly disagreed with that version. They said their yacht maintained a safe distance and did not behave aggressively.
Official Reaction in the United Kingdom
The UK prime minister described the incident as deeply concerning. He called the action reckless and said it should not have happened. He also suggested the couple must have felt terrified during the encounter.
The Ministry of Defence said early assessments indicate the Russian vessel may have been drifting before the situation escalated. Officials confirmed that the warship fired warning shots after attempts to contact the yacht.
Wider Maritime Tensions in the Channel
Russian naval vessels regularly pass through international waters in the English Channel. These waters are separate from UK and French territorial zones.
The Royal Navy monitors such movements as part of routine maritime security operations.
The incident follows another recent operation in which British forces intercepted a tanker linked to sanctioned oil shipments, highlighting ongoing tensions at sea.
