Sailors on a Russian warship fired a warning shot at a yacht that came near it in the English Channel, the Press Association understands.
The incident, at around 11.40am on Tuesday, is understood to have involved the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich in the sea between the Isle of White and Normandy.
It is the latest sign of rising tensions between the UK and Vladimir Putin’s country.
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In an operation on Sunday, Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) boarded the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos in the channel.
In Tuesday’s incident a UK-registered yacht alleged that the Russian warship fired warning shots nearby at a distance of approximately 500 yards (457 metres).
The shots were fired around 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters and caused no injuries or damage.
Russian warships passing through 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, another patrol vessel, was sent to the yacht to gather details and check on the safety of the crew.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We are investigating reports of an incident in the Channel.”
The Russian embassy in the UK has been approached for comment.
The UK’s support for Ukraine and sanctions aimed at crippling Mr Putin’s ability to finance his 2022 invasion have contributed to a deterioration in relations with Moscow.
The seizure of the Smyrtos was the first such action by British forces, although the UK had previously helped allies targeting sanctioned tankers.
The captain of the tanker, which was carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with breaching sanctions.
Indian national Ajay Pant has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
The 38-year-old appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court by video link from Bournemouth police station on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing during which he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and gave his address as being in India.
The MoD’s investigations into Tuesday’s incident are ongoing, but it is being viewed as an isolated act not linked to the interception of the Smyrtos.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the incident was “very concerning” and the UK should “be in no doubt that Russia poses a direct threat”.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman James MacClearly said: “Reports of a Russian warship firing warning shots in the English Channel are deeply concerning.
“Russia is quite literally on our doorstep. Aggression and intimidation in our waters must not be tolerated.”
