A Russian warship has carried out a live-fire military exercise just 46 miles from the UK coast, in the latest reminder of heightened tensions between Moscow and NATO.
The vessel conducted the 30-minute artillery drill south of Plymouth on Monday while being shadowed by the Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Tyne.
Before opening fire, the Russian warship informed HMS Tyne that it intended to begin the exercise and requested the British vessel move to a safer distance. HMS Tyne repositioned while continuing to monitor the situation.
The exercise took place in international waters and followed established maritime safety procedures, with no reports of any incident during the operation.
However, the drill’s proximity to Britain is likely to attract attention from defence officials as Russia continues to demonstrate its naval capabilities close to NATO territory.
The incident comes as military activity around Europe has intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Royal Navy vessels have regularly shadowed Russian warships transiting near UK waters, ensuring their movements are closely monitored.
A MoD spokesperson said: “A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday.
“The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security.
While the exercise was lawful under international maritime rules, it highlights the increasingly frequent encounters between Russian and NATO forces in European waters.
With Britain stepping up maritime surveillance to protect critical infrastructure and monitor Russian naval activity, similar operations are expected to continue as tensions remain high.
Lord Dannatt, chief of the general staff, told Times Radio: “I think it’s another illustration of the aggressive instinct shown by Vladimir Putin, of course most clearly demonstrated by his attack on Ukraine.
“But he wants to demonstrate that Russia’s got muscles that it can flex, and it’s not entirely by happenstance that that Russian warship chose to carry out a live fire exercise on the same day that Andy Burnham became prime minister.
“This is an indication from the Kremlin that ‘we’re here and we’re powerful, we’re strong, and what are you going to do about it?’ So it’s a challenge.”
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