Russian warship carries out live-fire exercise 40 miles off Plymouth

A Russian warship carried out a live-fire artillery exercise around 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth on Monday, July 20, while being monitored by a Royal Navy vessel throughout, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard has confirmed.

The Russian frigate, named locally by the BBC as the Neustrashimy, was shadowed by Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne during the exercise, which took place in international waters and lasted around 30 minutes. Standard maritime safety procedures were followed throughout: before opening fire, the Russian ship notified HMS Tyne of its intention to carry out gunnery activity and requested that the vessel reposition to a safe distance, which HMS Tyne did.

A French military aircraft was also monitoring the Russian warship and made radio contact with it to ask it to clarify its intentions, the BBC has been told.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the Royal Navy continues to "track the vessel's activity closely."

Luke Pollard MP, writing on Facebook, said: "Earlier today, a Russian naval vessel conducted a brief live-fire weapons exercise in international waters, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth. Standard maritime safety procedures were followed: prior to firing, the Russian ship notified HMS Tyne of its intention and requested that she reposition to a safe distance, which HMS Tyne did. The exercise lasted 30 minutes."

He added: "HMS Tyne monitored the exercise throughout and the Royal Navy continues to track the vessel's movements closely. I know seeing activity like this close to our coastline can cause concern, but I want to reassure residents across Plymouth that our Armed Forces remain vigilant, professional, and fully prepared to safeguard UK national security at all times."

The incident comes amid what the BBC describes as a period of increased Russian naval activity near UK waters in recent months. UK defence sources declined to comment on whether the timing of the exercise, coming at the start of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's premiership, was significant.

It follows a series of similar incidents involving Russian vessels in UK and nearby waters. Last month, Royal Marine Commandos boarded a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel in a six-hour operation, the first of its kind carried out by UK armed forces.

Also in June, a British couple sailing in international waters in the Channel encountered the Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich around 23 miles off the Isle of Wight. The frigate fired warning shots as the couple, Jane and Alan Kelvey, sailed their yacht nearby, in what Russia's defence ministry described as a "dangerous approach", though the couple said they were "not on a collision course."

Russian warships regularly pass through international waters in the Channel, which are separate from UK and French territorial waters.