Russian warship conducts live-fire exercises off the coast of England

British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting condemned on Tuesday the “irresponsible” live-fire training conducted by a Russian warship on Monday in the English Channel off the coast of Plymouth in southwest England.

The Associated Press (AFP) quoted a Ministry of Defence spokesperson as saying the training took place approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth.

He added that the Royal Navy monitored the exercise and continues to closely track the ship’s activities, remaining on standby to protect the United Kingdom’s national security.

Minister Streeting, who assumed his post on Monday in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new government, stated that this was not the first time Russia had acted in such a manner, and that it represented only a small fraction of the daily threats facing the UK and its allies.

The ministry noted that the Russian ship warned the British patrol vessel HMS Tyne, which was present in the area, of its intention to conduct live-fire exercises and requested that it move to a safer distance.

The maneuver coincided with the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at Downing Street, amid escalating tensions with Russia in the English Channel and North European waters.

In mid-June, British forces intercepted a Russian oil tanker from the “shadow fleet” in the Channel.

Two days later, a sailing vessel registered in the UK reported being fired warning shots by a Russian warship while sailing south of the Isle of Wight, outside British territorial waters.

Then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “reckless” behavior, while the Russian Ministry of Defence asserted that the sailing vessel was approaching the Russian frigate “in a dangerous manner.”

The Kremlin stated on Tuesday that there was “no hope” for improved relations with London following Keir Starmer’s assumption of power, strongly criticizing the new British prime minister’s “unconditional” support for Ukraine.