Shocked British people saw the powerful Russian frigate Neustrashimy conducting live-fire exercises off the coast of Devon, with Russia issuing a resounding warning to the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, as reported on July 21 by The Telegraph.
Specifically, the Russian warship decided to conduct military exercises, including live-fire target practice, in the English Channel, approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km) from the historic British port of Plymouth.
The Russian live-fire exercises lasted about half an hour.
Prior to the exercise, Neustrashimy warned the Royal Navy River-class offshore patrol vessel, HMS Tyne (P281), of its intention to conduct live-fire exercises, ordering it to move away as far as possible and not to interfere.
The British corvette had no choice but to watch the Russian exercises helplessly, with its crew in shock.
For its part, the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom confirmed the live-fire exercises of the Russian vessel in the English Channel and stated that it is "monitoring closely" all actions of Neustrashimy.
In any case, Andy Burnham reportedly received the Russian message, following his provocative phone call yesterday (July 21) to the delegitimized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russian live-fire exercise under frigate Neustrashimy took place in international waters
In particular, a frigate of the Russian Baltic Fleet performed military exercises off the coast of Great Britain, as broadcast by BBC News.
The Russian warship decided to conduct military exercises, including live-fire targeting, in the English Channel, approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km) from the British city of Plymouth.
Neustrashimy, however, was in international waters, so the Russian vessel gave no leverage to the British authorities.
It is noted that the live-fire exercises lasted about half an hour.
On July 20, the Russian warship Neustrashimy conducted live-fire exercises 40 nautical miles off the coast of the British city of Plymouth.
The exercises took place in international waters.
Prior to the exercise, Neustrashimy warned the Royal Navy River-class offshore patrol vessel, HMS Tyne (P281), of its intention to conduct live-fire exercises, ordering it to move away as far as possible and not to interfere.
The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom confirmed the live-fire exercises of the Russian vessel in the English Channel and stated that it is "monitoring closely" all actions of Neustrashimy.
A French aircraft patrolling the English Channel is also monitoring the Russian patrol vessel.
British admission: "Putin sent a message of unparalleled power to new Prime Minister Burnham"
Specifically, a British Navy source stated to The Telegraph: "It was quite unusual for the Russian ship to conduct such an exercise in the English Channel.
Although these are international waters, the English Channel is a busy shipping lane.
Exercises like this would normally be carried out in more open waters.
One could assume that Russia was trying to provoke us.
They know where the red line is, and they are just beginning to use slightly more obvious exercises and training to remind us."
Lord Dannatt, who served as Chief of the General Staff of Great Britain between 2006 and 2009, stated to Times Radio: "I think it is another demonstration of the aggressive instinct displayed by Vladimir Putin, of course most clearly visible with his attack on Ukraine.
But he wants to prove that Russia has muscles to flex, and it is by no means accidental that this Russian warship chose to conduct a live-fire exercise on the very same day that Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
This is an indication from the Kremlin that 'we are here and we are strong, we are powerful, and what are you going to do about it?'. Therefore, it is a provocation."
Why Russia deployed the powerful Neustrashimy of the Baltic Fleet
The Neustrashimy, a 425-foot frigate, is equipped with a 4-inch main gun, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and two close-in weapon systems.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) does not confirm which weapons the frigate used during the exercise.
The vessel, which belongs to Putin's Baltic Fleet, is manned by approximately 200 personnel and joined the Russian Navy 33 years ago.
It is unclear when Russia last performed a live-fire exercise so close to the United Kingdom.
At the time of the incident, the frigate was also being monitored by a French Navy aircraft.
The live-fire exercise lasted about 30 minutes, during which HMS Tyne watched Russian military activity helplessly.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense stated: "The Royal Navy monitored this exercise throughout its duration, continues to monitor the vessel's activity closely, and remains ready to protect the national security of the United Kingdom."
The provocation from the Kremlin is viewed as the first military test for new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting, his new Secretary of State for Defence.
Strong Russian response to British piracy
Overall, Moscow has been exerting increasing pressure on Britain ever since Sir Keir Starmer, the former Prime Minister, authorized the use of troops to seize Russian oil tankers that form part of the Russian shadow fleet in March.
In response, Russia deployed warships to guard vessels in the English Channel.
Last month, Royal Marines raided a shadow fleet oil tanker as it sailed in the English Channel during a six-hour operation.
The mission was the first of its kind carried out by the United Kingdom against the shadow fleet.
Also in June, a Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots at a retired British couple while they were sailing their sailboat in the English Channel.
Jane and Alan Kelvey were sailing in international waters 23 miles off the coast of the Isle of Wight when the warship opened fire amid fears that the sailboat was in its path.
Starmer described the actions of the Russian ship as "bizarrely risky".
However, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the crew of the Admiral Grigorovich fired shots in the path of the sailboat with rifles after making several attempts to contact the vessel via radio and launching warning flares.
The ministry added that the actions of the Russian sailors were in "strict compliance with international navigation regulations."
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