Russian warship carries out rare live-fire exercise 45 miles off UK coast

A Russian warship conducted a rare live-fire exercise in the Channel 45 miles south of Plymouth on Monday, the day Andy Burnham was appointed as prime minister.The Neustrashimy suddenly announced it intended to fire its guns and requested that a British warship, which had been tracking it, retreat to a safe distance.The patrol vessel HMS Tyne repositioned, allowing the Russian frigate to conduct a 30-minute firing drill at around 9.30am in international waters to the south of the UK.Russian warships have been sailing around British waters for much of 2026. Last month another frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots within a few hundred metres of a couple on a British pleasure yacht, south of the Isle of Wight.Conducting a live-fire exercise at short notice in international waters close to another country is a rare event and usually conducted with due notice. However, if proper safety warnings are given it is legal.The 130-metre-long Neustrashimy is armed with anti-ship cruise missiles and a 100mm gun capable of firing 50 rounds a minute. It also has Gatling rotary machine guns as part of its air defence systems.It has not been confirmed what weapons were fired during the test.The Neustrashimy arrived off the British coast earlier this month, replacing the Admiral Grigorovich which had been on an extended three-month deployment, typically in the Channel or the North Sea.Maritime tensions between the UK and Russia are at a heightened state. A Russia-linked oil tanker was seized in the Channel by the Royal Marines last month, prompting warnings that there could be a Russian retaliation.Russian warships have been used to escort some oil tankers, though at other times their presence is designed to be psychological and tie up UK naval resources in monitoring them.A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday.“The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security.”