A Russian naval vessel, identified as the frigate Neustrashimy, conducts a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters off the coast of Plymouth in south-west England. The UK Ministry of Defence confirms that the activity takes place about 40–46 miles from the coast and lasts around 30 minutes. According to reports, the frigate informs a British Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, HMS Tyne, of its intentions to fire and requests it move to a safer distance while the exercise proceeds. The Royal Navy monitors the vessel’s activity throughout.
Multiple outlets also report that a French military aircraft establishes radio contact with the warship and asks for clarification of its intentions, and that the British warship complies by retreating from the area during the drill. The exercise is described as one of several recent Russian ship movements near UK waters this year, including other incidents in the Channel involving Russian vessels. Sources also note that such sailings typically occur in international waters and do not involve entry into UK or French territorial waters.
