Putin ‘scores own goal’ as Russian warship fires near UK coast | UK | News
File image of Russian navy frigate Neustrashimy (Image: Getty)
A rare gunnery exercise by a Russian warship near England could “backfire” on Vladimir Putin, the former Royal Navy chief has suggested. Lord West said the “bizarre” live firing of Neustrashimy 40 nautical miles (46 miles) south of Plymouth could have the opposite effect Vladimir Putin wanted.
The Labor member, who was First Sea Lord between 2002 and 2006, said Monday morning’s exercises were designed to “provoke” Britain but doubted they coincided with Andy Burnham’s first day as prime minister. Lord West said Putin “hates” Britain and suggested the incident involving the Russian frigate could help the new government pour more money into defence, with former defense secretary John Healey appointed as Chancellor.
He said: “There is no doubt this reminds Burnham how important defense spending is.
Neustrashimy, seen in South Africa in 2024, is 130 meters long. (Image: Getty)
“Hopefully, with Healey now entering the Treasury, Burnham will ensure that the money needed for defense is spent through Healey.
“So in a sense this would backfire on Putin, right?”
Neustrashimy carried out the exercises between 9am and 10am on Monday, just hours before Mr Burnham was to officially replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
Lord Dannatt, a former commander of the British Army, told Times Radio he believed it was “another example of the aggressive instinct” shown by Mr Putin, saying the timing was “not entirely coincidental”.
The 130-meter-long Neustrashimy, belonging to the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet, was being followed by a Royal Navy warship as it approached England.
Neustrashimy notified HMS Tyne of her intention to test-fire her guns and requested that the patrol ship move to a safer distance, which it did.
Live firing was then carried out in international waters, where warships were allowed to conduct exercises lasting half an hour.
A Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesman said the Navy monitored the exercise “throughout” and “continues to closely monitor the ship’s activities”.
Lord West said Neustrashimy’s gunnery activity exercise took place in an area where Royal Navy ships frequently exercise.
Describing the incident as “slightly strange”, he said: “Quite clearly what Putin is doing is just trying to provoke things.”
The former Navy chief added: “If they really wanted detailed training exercises for their ships, they would go to the training areas and do it where all the facilities are.
“There’s no real excuse for doing this.”
It has not yet been confirmed which weapons were fired during the exercise.
Neustrashimy is understood to be escorting oil tankers across the Channel from what is claimed to be the Russian stay-behind fleet.
He is believed to have taken over from Admiral Grigorovich, who made headlines last month after firing warning shots at a British couple sailing a yacht.
The ship’s presence is an example of increased Russian naval activity around the United Kingdom.
Navy chief General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has warned that Russian attacks on British waters have increased by 30% in two years.
Tensions reached flashpoint last month when Royal Marine commandos boarded and seized what was claimed to be a shadow fleet tanker.
The ship was detained about 40 kilometers off the Isle of Wight in the first UK-led operation of its kind.
Britain has previously been accused of not doing enough to stop sanctioned ships and is suspected of helping finance Russia’s war against Ukraine by transporting oil and gas while evading international sanctions.
