Audacious Russia warship conducts 'live-fire weapons exercise' near British coast as Royal Navy deployed
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The drills were conducted 40 nautical miles from the British coast
Brash Russian sailors conducted a 'live-fire weapons exercise' close to the British coast.
Sky News reports that RFN Neustrashimy conducted an artillery manoeuvre on Monday (July 20). The exercise was conducted 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth.
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A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the national publication: “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."
Sky News said the Russian Neustrashimy class frigate informed the Portsmouth-based patrol vessel HMS Tyne of its intention to conduct a gunnery exercise before it happened. It then requested the River-class vessel to move to a safer distance.
Drills took place in international waters and lasted for 30 minutes. Russian military activity is increasing in the English Channel, with warships often deployed to escort shadow fleet vessels. These merchant ships are used by Vladimir Putin to carry sanctioned cargo - often oil - in order to fund Moscow’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The recently published Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26 revealed the extent of the activity. The report said in the period of 2025-26, Royal navy vessels were activated 116 times to monitor 61 Russian warships and 28 Moscow merchant vessels in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). “There has been a 30 per cent increase in Russian Naval activity in the UK’s EEZ over the previous two years,” he added.
Former chief of general staff, General Lord Richard Dannatt, said “it’s not entirely by happenstance” that RFN Neustrashimy conducted the exercise on the same day that new prime minister Andy Burnham was sworn in. He told Times Radio: “I think it’s another illustration of the aggressive instinct shown by Vladimir Putin, of course most clearly demonstrated by his attack on Ukraine.
“But he wants to demonstrate that Russia’s got muscles that it can flex, and it’s not entirely by happenstance that that Russian warship chose to carry out a live fire exercise on the same day that Andy Burnham became prime minister. This is an indication from the Kremlin that ‘we’re here and we’re powerful, we’re strong, and what are you going to do about it?’ So it’s a challenge.”