What is the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich? The warship that fired shots at yacht in English Channel
The Ministry of Defense has launched an investigation after a Russian warship reportedly fired warning shots at a British yacht in the English Channel, in what authorities are now treating as an isolated incident.
It appears that the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich was involved in the encounter, which did not cause any injuries or damage to the yacht.
The incident occurred outside UK territorial waters, approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight.
Admiral Grigorovich, a frigate belonging to the Black Sea fleet, had previously been monitored by the Royal Navy during its passage in the English Channel.
In April, the 3,500-ton ship was observed escorting two other shadow fleet ships along the southern coast of England, with the British tanker RFA Tideforce following behind.
The 125-meter-long frigate is located in Sevastopol, an important port city of Crimea under Russian occupation.
Admiral Grigorovich has eight vertical launch cells for cruise missiles that can be used against ships or ground targets.
There is also a hangar and helipad for the A-190 Arsenal naval gun, military helicopter.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “We are investigating reports of an incident on the canal.”
Last month the Royal Navy said it was “closely monitoring” Admiral Grigorovich as she navigated British waters, the west of the United Kingdom and the North Sea throughout April.
A Royal Navy spokesman said on 6 May: “Patrol ships HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey and HMS Severn, tanker RFA Tideforce and Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron followed Russian Navy Admiral Grigorovich throughout April.
“There was not a day last month when a Russian warship, its support ships or the ships it was tasked with escorting were not closely monitored by Royal Navy air or sea power.
“Grigorovich operated between the North Sea and the Western Approaches, escorting Russian-flagged ships to and from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic.”
The gunfire occurred just hours before Smyrtos’ captain was due to appear in court accused of violating sanctions. The Russian shadow fleet ship was carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil when it was intercepted by British troops.
Ajay Pant, an Indian national, was accused of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering banned oil or petroleum products from Russia to a third country by ship in violation of strict sanctions.
