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Russian warship carried out live-firing exercises just off the coast of Plymouth

Published 13:52 21 Jul 2026 BST

Updated 13:52 21 Jul 2026 BST

Lum Haliti
Russian warship carried out live-firing exercises just off the coast of Plymouth

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It informed of its intentions to fire

A live-fire artillery exercise was carried out by a Russian warship just 46 miles off the coast of Plymouth, it has been revealed.

The Ministry of Defence said that the Russian exercise on Monday was monitored by the Royal Navy.

According to MoD, they are now continuing to “track the vessel’s activity closely”.

It has been reported that the Russian frigate Neustrashimy had informed the HMS Tyne, a Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel, of its intentions to fire.

Radio contact with the warship was also made by a French military aircraft, which asked those on board to clarify its intentions.

According to the BBC, the HMS Tyne was asked to move to a safer distance while the exercise took place, lasting 30 minutes.

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The UK’s ongoing 'problem' with Russian ships

The latest incident was just one of several Russian ships seen near UK waters this year, with a ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker in the Channel last month.

The tanker was boarded in a six-hour operation by Royal Marine Commandos, and it was the first of its kind by the UK armed forces.

While the Russian warships pass through international waters in the Channel regularly, they do not enter UK or French territories.

Back in June, there was an incident when a retired couple clashed with a Russian frigate while on their 40ft yacht, 23 miles south of the Isle of Wight.

After news that warning shots had been fired emerged, Russia accused the Kelveys of making a “dangerous approach”.

However, the couple have insisted that they were “definitely not on a collision course”.

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