A Russian frigate sailing in the English Channel fired warning shots toward a civilian yacht Tuesday, British media reported.
The PA news agency reported that the incident occurred at about 11:40 a.m. local time after the yacht approached the Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich in the area between the Isle of Wight and Normandy.
Sky News reported that the incident took place outside British territorial waters and that the yacht was about 457 meters, or 500 yards, from the Russian ship when the warning shots were fired. No injuries or damage were reported.
The circumstances remained unclear. Britain’s Defense Ministry confirmed it was investigating a maritime incident in the area but did not provide further details.
Britain said Monday that two Royal Navy ships had tracked the Admiral Grigorovich while it was sailing west of Brest, France.
British media described the incident as another sign of growing tension between Britain and Russia. It came two days after British commandos boarded a tanker in the Channel that was described as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of vessels used by Moscow to export oil while avoiding Western sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.