Russian warship fires warning shot at yacht that came near it in English Channel
Sailors on a Russian warship fired a warning shot at an approaching yacht in the English Channel, signaling the latest signal of rising tensions between Britain and Vladimir Putin’s country.
The incident, which occurred at around 11.40 on Tuesday, is understood to have occurred in the sea between the Isle of Wight and Normandy, where the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich crashed.
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 canal.
In Tuesday’s incident, a British-registered yacht claimed that the Russian warship fired warning shots from a distance of about 500 yards (457 meters).
The shots were fired outside UK territorial waters, approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, and did not cause any injuries or damage.
Russian warships transiting the English Channel are routinely shadowed by the Royal Navy, with offshore patrol ship HMS Mersey following Admiral Grigorovich on Tuesday.
A marine boat from another patrol ship, HMS Tyne, was sent to the yacht to collect details and check the safety of the crew.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “We are investigating reports of an incident on the canal.”
On Tuesday, the captain of the Russian shadow fleet ship Smyrtos, carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil stopped by British troops in the English Channel, appeared in court accused of violating sanctions.
Indian national Ajay Pant was charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited oil or petroleum products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, contrary to Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
The 38-year-old appeared for a preliminary hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday via video link from Bournemouth police station; At this time, he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and stated that he was in India.
He also gave no indication of his defence, and his lawyer James Diamond requested that the case be sent to the crown court.
District Judge David Robinson, appearing by video link from Portsmouth, sent the case for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on July 16 and remanded Pant in custody until then.
The court heard the oil tanker was part of Russia’s “secret fleet of 700 ships” which acted as a “lifeline” by carrying 75% of its oil and helping finance the war against Ukraine.
Royal Navy commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) seized the tanker Smyrtos in the Channel early on Sunday in the first UK-led operation to seize a sanctioned ship, and it has since been officially blocked from leaving the UK.
The ship, which is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset, has 24 crew members from Georgia and India.
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) chief prosecutor Joanne Jakymec said: “The CPS has decided to prosecute Ajay Pant for breaching Russian sanctions following the National Crime Agency’s investigation and the seizure of the shadow oil tanker MV Smyrtos, which crossed the English Channel last weekend.”
Mr Diamond said: “I submit that, given the seriousness of the matter, without any indication of possible punishment, the appropriate venue would be the crown court.”
Prosecutor Varun Chuni said: “The Crown says this is a matter that should be referred to the crown court, there are no sentencing guidelines, the offense carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.”
He added: “On the morning of 14 June, the Royal Marines and the National Crime Agency boarded the oil tanker MV Smyrtos, which had entered UK territorial waters without a legitimate flag.
“MV Smyrtos is an oil tanker used by the Russian shadow fleet; the shadow fleet is a designation given to Russia’s stealth tanker fleet. Russia It was used to transport its oil around the world.
“They operate under a flag of convenience, it is very difficult to trace the real owners of these tankers.
“They turn off transponder tracking, regularly change flags, and broadcast false locations to fool law enforcement.”
He said the MV Smyrtos was designated within the scope of sanctions that the UK imposed on Russia in 2025, which were “implemented to put pressure on Russia and its economy”.
“It is known that it was in Russia and left Russian territorial waters on June 5, 2026.
“Her movements were monitored and on 13 June she entered UK territorial waters east of Margate, flying the Cameroonian flag.
“The captain of the ship has been identified as the defendant. He is an Indian national and was arrested on the evening of June 14 and is currently in custody.
“It is suspected that he was the captain of that ship, essentially responsible for it.
“The amount of oil transported is very large, it is thought to be 98 thousand tons of oil, obviously a serious amount. As for its value, it is unquestionable to say that it has a very serious value.”
Mr Chuni added: “This is obviously a matter of great national interest, but also of international interest, the shadow fleet is a matter of great importance.”
He said that the MV Smyrtos was one of 700 ships used by Russia as part of its shadow fleet which transports 75% of its oil and added: “It’s an essential, critical lifeline for the country.
“Money from this shadow fleet is being used to finance Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
Mr Diamond said his client, who had no previous criminal record in any country, was merely an employee of the ship owner and was “just following orders”.
He said: “The defendant is very clear, it was not his choice where this ship would go, it was not his choice what this ship would carry, he was just following orders from those within the country.”
He added: “The defendant is not a Russian citizen nor does he receive any money or benefits from Russia; he is simply an employee doing his job and finding himself before the British court.”
Remanding Pant in custody, District Judge Robinson said: “Having regard to these matters, I consider that there are significant reasons to fear that you may escape, given the nature and seriousness of the offenses against you and the likely sentence if convicted.
“You will therefore be detained until your next hearing at the crown court.”
The accused gave his address in the court as Virdeep, Shiv Vihar Colony, Near Power House, Chilkiya, Ramnagar, Nainital in northeast Delhi.
