Russian frigate fires off Plymouth, tracked by UK, France

A Russian warship conducted a live-fire artillery exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth on Monday, July 20, 2026, while under close surveillance by British and French military assets. The frigate Neustrashimy was shadowed by the Royal Navy's offshore patrol vessel HMS Tyne, which the Russian vessel informed of its intentions and requested to move to a safer distance before commencing the 30-minute drill. A French military aircraft also monitored the warship and made radio contact to request clarification of its activities.

A spokesperson for the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence stated that the Royal Navy monitored the exercise and continues to track the vessel's activity closely. The incident occurred as the Neustrashimy, part of Russia's Baltic Fleet, has been operating in the North Sea and English Channel. Last week, the frigate was observed in the North Sea near Felixstowe.

This event follows heightened tensions in the region linked to operations against vessels associated with Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," a collection of aging tankers used to illicitly ship oil and other goods while attempting to evade Western sanctions...