Russian warship fires warning shot at boat in English Channel

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Sailors on a Russian warship fired a warning shot at a yacht that got here close to it within the English Channel, marking the most recent signal of rising tensions between the UK and Vladimir Putin’s nation.

The incident, at round 11.40am on Tuesday, is known to have concerned the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich within the sea between the Isle of Wight and Normandy.

In an operation on Sunday, Royal Marine commandos and officers from the Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) boarded the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos within the channel.

In Tuesday’s incident a UK-registered yacht alleged that the Russian warship fired warning pictures close by at a distance of roughly 500 yards (457 metres).

The pictures had been fired round 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, exterior UK territorial waters and precipitated no accidents or injury.

Russian warships passing by way of the English Channel are routinely shadowed by the Royal Navy, with offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey monitoring the Admiral Grigorovich on Tuesday.

A seaboat from HMS Tyne, one other patrol vessel, was despatched to the yacht to collect particulars and test on the protection of the crew.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman mentioned: “We’re investigating experiences of an incident within the Channel.”

On Tuesday the captain of Smyrtos, the Russian shadow fleet vessel carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil which was intercepted by British troops within the English Channel, appeared in court docket charged with breaching sanctions.

Indian nationwide Ajay Pant has been charged with immediately or not directly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil merchandise from Russia to a 3rd nation in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Rules 2019.

The 38-year-old appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court docket by videolink from Bournemouth police station on Tuesday for a preliminary listening to throughout which he spoke to verify his identify and date of delivery and gave his tackle as being in India.

He additionally gave no indication of his plea and his solicitor James Diamond requested the case be despatched to the crown court docket.

District Decide David Robinson, who appeared on the videolink from Portsmouth, despatched the case for a plea and trial preparation listening to at Bournemouth Crown Court docket on July 16 and remanded Pant in custody till then.

The court docket heard that the oil tanker was a part of Russia’s “clandestine fleet of 700 ships” which acted as its “lifeline” by transporting 75% of its oil and serving to fund the battle in opposition to Ukraine.

Royal Marine commandos and officers from the Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) seized the tanker Smyrtos within the Channel early on Sunday within the first UK-led operation to seize a sanctioned vessel and it has since been formally prevented from leaving the UK.

The 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, stay on board the ship, which is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset.

Joanne Jakymec, chief Crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), mentioned: “The CPS has determined to prosecute Ajay Pant for breaching Russian sanctions following a Nationwide Crime Company investigation and the seizure of the shadow oil tanker, MV Smyrtos, travelling by way of the English Channel over the past weekend.”

Mr Diamond mentioned: “With none indication of potential sentence, given the severity of the matter, I’d submit the crown court docket could be the suitable venue.”

Varun Chuni, prosecuting, mentioned: “The Crown says this can be a matter that must be despatched to the crown court docket, there are not any sentencing tips, the offence carries a most punishment of 10 years.”

He added: “On the morning of June 14, Royal Marines and the Nationwide Crime Company boarded the oil tanker MV Smyrtos, that vessel had entered UK territorial waters and not using a respectable flag.

“The MV Smyrtos is an oil tanker that’s utilised by the Russian shadow fleet, the shadow fleet is an outline given to the clandestine fleet of tankers that Russia used to move its oil all over the world.

“They function beneath a flag of comfort, the real homeowners of these tankers are very tough to hint.

“With the intention to deceive regulation enforcement, they flip off monitoring transponders and so they frequently change flags and broadcast false areas.”

He mentioned that the MV Smyrtos was designated beneath UK sanctions on Russia in 2025 which “had been launched to put stress on Russia and its financial system”.

He mentioned: “It’s identified it was in Russia on June 5 2026 and departed Russian territorial waters.

“Its actions had been monitored, it then entered UK territorial waters, east of Margate, on June 13, flying the flag of Cameroon.

“The grasp of that vessel has been recognized because the defendant. He’s an Indian nationwide and he was arrested on the night of June 14 and is at present in custody.

“He’s suspected to be grasp of that vessel, basically accountable for it.

“The quantity of oil being carried is substantial, it’s considered 98,000 tonnes of oil, clearly that could be a important quantity. As to its worth, it’s uncontroversial to say it’s of very important worth.”

Mr Chuni added: “That is clearly a matter of nice nationwide curiosity, worldwide curiosity as effectively, the shadow fleet is a major matter.”

He mentioned that the MV Smyrtos was certainly one of 700 ships utilized by Russia as a part of its shadow fleet which transports 75% of its oil and added: “It’s an important, vital lifeline for the nation.

“The cash generated from that shadow fleet is getting used to fund Russia’s battle in Ukraine.”

Mr Diamond mentioned that his consumer, who had no earlier convictions in any nation, was solely an worker of the vessel’s proprietor and was “merely following orders”.

He mentioned: “The defendant could be very clear, it was not his selection the place this vessel was going, it was not his selection what this vessel was going to be carrying, he was merely following orders from these throughout the nation.”

He added: “The defendant shouldn’t be a Russian nationwide or has obtained any cash or advantages from Russia, he’s merely an worker doing his job and discovering himself earlier than a British court docket.”

Remanding Pant in custody, District Decide Robinson mentioned: “Having thought of these issues, I do suppose due to the character and seriousness of the offences you might be charged with and the seemingly penalty in case you are convicted, there are substantial grounds to worry that you might abscond.

“You’ll due to this fact be remanded in custody till your subsequent listening to within the crown court docket.”

The defendant gave his tackle in court docket as Virdeep, Shiv Vihar Colony, Close to Energy Home, Chilkiya, Ramnagar, Nainital, which is north-east of Delhi.