A Russian warship was caught opening fire just miles from the Devon coast, with the Royal Navy powerless to intervene.
One of Vladimir Putin’s frigates, the Neustrashimy, was seen launching a live-fire artillery exercise around 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth.
The Royal Navy monitored the firing and is now tracking the vessel’s activity closely, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.
French military aircraft also monitored the Russian warship and asked it to clarify its intentions by radio.
The Neustrashimy told the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne it intended to conduct the exercise.
It then requested the HMS Tyne to move back to a safer distance, which it did.
The live-firing exercise took place for 30 minutes in international waters.
Last week, the Neustrashimy, part of Russia’s Baltic Fleet, was caught lurking in the North Sea near Felixstowe.
Russian Navy Frigate Neustrashimy conducted a live-firing exercise just 40 miles off Britain’s shores
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GETTY
Sky News cameras picked up the frigate as it was being refuelled and restocked by a Russian logistics support ship nearby.
UK defence sources would not comment to the BBC on whether Monday’s incident may have been timed to coincide with the start of Andy Burnham’s premiership.
But the incident is yet another barb from Russia and its “shadow fleet” in the waters just outside Britain’s control in the Channel and North Sea.
Last month, Royal Marine Commandos raided a “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Channel in a six-hour operation.
RUSSIA IN BRITISH WATERS – READ MORE:
Royal Marine Commandos raided a ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanked in the Channel just last month
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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Sir Keir Starmer said at the time: “This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.”
Just days later, a British couple were fired at by the Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich, which has escorted members of the shadow fleet.
Couple Alan and Jane Kelvey said the Russians made no contact with them over the radio and insisted they were not doing anything wrong.
“We were not on a collision course in any way shape or form… we didn’t do anything wrong,” they told GB News.
Russian Navy Frigate Neustrashimy told HMS Tyne (pictured) to reposition to a safer distance
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Sir Keir told The People’s Channel the Russian vessel was “reckless” but its actions were not “sinister”.
Under the former Prime Minister, the Government claimed to be a “leader in tackling the shadow fleet” – but it remains unclear how Andy Burnham will approach the issue.
Further interventions against the fleet were suggested within the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
The plan includes funding for new high-speed commando insertion craft – special vessels used to covertly transport troops from the rapid-response force – which officials said could be used for Russian shadow fleet vessel interception.
John Healey resigned from Sir Keir’s Cabinet over failures to fund the Dip – and will now look to fund it as the new Chancellor.