Starmer calls Russian warship warning shots in Channel ‘deeply concerning’
9 reported
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described warning shots fired by a Russian warship in the English Channel on Tuesday as "deeply concerning and reckless," speaking from the G7 summit in France on Wednesday. The incident occurred at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday more than 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight and less than 40 miles north of Normandy, when a British pleasure yacht named Bright Future sailed close to the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich and ignored at least one warning. The Ministry of Defence stated that the Russian vessel was drifting and fired warning shots within a few hundred metres of the yacht, not aimed at it, to prevent a possible collision. Russia's defence ministry said the yacht was on a "dangerous course" and continued to within 150 metres after signal rockets were fired, prompting a warning shot. Starmer said the yacht's occupants "must be terrified" and that the UK deals with proxy attacks from Russia "every single day." He also commented on a separate arson attack on his house, for which two men were found guilty on Monday, noting it had affected his family.
What’s reported
Warning shots were fired by a Russian warship in the English Channel on Tuesday morning.
Keir Starmer called the incident "deeply concerning and reckless" from the G7 summit on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defence assessed the Russian vessel was drifting and fired shots within a few hundred metres of a British pleasure yacht.
The incident occurred at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, more than 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight and less than 40 miles north of Normandy.
The yacht was identified as the private vessel Bright Future.
British sources said initial indications were that Russian sailors fired more than one shot.
Russia's defence ministry said the yacht was on a "dangerous course" and continued to within 150 metres before a warning shot was fired.
Starmer said the UK deals with proxy attacks from Russia "every single day."
Two men were found guilty on Monday of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property connected to the prime minister.
Key figures
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Ministry of Defence (UK)
Russia's defence ministry
Sources: The Guardian
