A retired British couple have told of the “scary” moment a Russian warship in the English Channel fired warning shots into the air as they sailed their yacht nearby.
Jane and Alan Kelvey were sailing their 40-foot yacht, Bright Future , from the south coast of England to northern France when it came within 500 yards of the Kremlin frigate the Admiral Grigorovich , before it fired several times.
The couple, aged 68 and 70, told The i Paper they were around 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight when they heard “four or five gunshots” fired from the Russian warship.
“It was a bit scary,” Mrs Kelvey told The i Paper . “I crouched down. I didn’t think our safety was in danger. But it was certainly unusual. As we sailed away, we said to each other, ‘What the hell just happened?'”
Shorts
Describing the encounter, she said: “We could see the ship in the distance with what looked like Cyrillic writing on the side. We heard five blasts on their horn, as a warning.
“We weren’t moving towards them – we were at a safe distance. But we began pulling further away from then.
“We heard another five blasts on the horn as a warning. Then we heard four or five gun shots.
“They were warning shots, fired in the air – they weren’t firing at us.”
Mrs Kelvey added: “It was totally unnecessary. We didn’t have any contact from them [ Admiral Grigorovich ] on our radio.”
The British couple called the UK Coastguard, who then informed the Navy. HMS Tyne then came alongside the yacht, allowing British Navy officials to speak to the couple and make sure they were alright.
They were interviewed by French police when they docked at Cherbourg at around 5pm on Tuesday, having left Lymington on the south coast of England at 4am.
The couple usually spend a couple of months sailing around the Channel Islands and Brittany each summer since retiring in 2023 and buying the boat, said Mrs Kelvey.
“We’re shattered, having left at 4 o’clock this morning,” Mrs Kelvey said. “We’re glad it’s over.”
The Bright Future , based in Port Solent marina in Portsmouth, was named in a Russian government statement confirming the incident that occurred just after 11am.
Mr and Mrs Kelvey previously kept a blog recording their sailing adventures on the yacht, including that they first found it “nesting unloved at the back of MDL’s Chatham Marina in the Medway river opposite the historic Upnor Castle”.
The Bright Future yacht was sailing across the Channel when it was fired towards by sailors on a Russian warship (Photo: Alamy)
“ Bright Future had been abandoned like the Mary Celeste , with unmade beds, a fridge (not working) full of rusting beer cans and items of clothing left in lockers and strewn around,” a post on the blog read.
“With the help of our, then young, children we undertook a serious deep clean, inside and out, lubricated everything that stood still, following much work Bright Future was revived.”
Royal Navy vessel Mersey tracking the Admiral Grigorovich frigate and Krasnodar submarine on a previous mission (Photo: Ministry of Defence)
It is understood that the Admiral Grigorovich – which has previously accompanied Vladimir Putin’s illicit “shadow fleet” vessels along England’s southern coast – made attempts to alert the British boat that it was in its path by sounding its horn before it fired the shots.
Russia’s defence ministry said the yacht was “following a dangerous course” and that “the frigate’s crew made several attempts to contact the civilian vessel on the international radio channel”.
It said that the “small arms” fire was carried out “pre-emptively” and that the crew on the frigate “acted in strict accordance with international shipping regulations”.
The Russian ship is understood to have been having difficulty controlling its movements, possibly due to an engine problem. Investigations are still ongoing as to the cause of the almost collision.
The UK-registered Bright Future filed a report to British authorities that the Russian vessel had fired warning shots from around 500 yards (457 meters).
HMS Mersey was monitoring the Russian vessel at the time, according to insiders, and a sea boat from HMS Tyne has visited the yacht to gather details and check they are safe.
Military insiders suggested this was not being read as an attack on the UK, but it marks the latest escalation in Russia-UK relations .
Former defence secretary Ben Wallace said the incident showed that “Russia is getting desperate”. “Firing at an innocent yacht is not the actions of a major power. It is the behaviour of a tin-pot bully,” he said.
A Nato official told The i Paper that the alliance was “closely monitoring the situation and is in touch with UK authorities”. Article 5 of the military alliance, which comprises 32 countries including the UK, states that an attack on one country is perceived as an attack by all. It is able to convene emergency meetings when the security of any member is threatened.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirm…
Read the full article at iNews →📄Source document: Ministry of Defence (MoD)→13 reports
The Guardian (World)IndependentCenter4 days agoA Russian warship fired warning shots at a British yacht in the English Channel, according to reports. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as 'deeply concerning and reckless.' Russia's defense ministry claimed the yacht was on a 'dangerous course' and had attempted to contact it multiple times, but this account was disputed by the retired couple aboard the vessel.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the UK government's concern and Russia's explanation without overtly favoring either side. It does not include explicit biased language or one-sided sourcing, maintaining a balanced tone.
Official sources cited
- government Russia's Defence Ministry Statement
- government UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Statement
Daily MirrorParty-alignedRight4 days agoA British couple, Jane Kelvey and Alan Kelvey, claimed that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is attempting to suppress their account of an incident where a Russian warship fired warning shots near their yacht in the English Channel. The couple stated that the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots near their vessel, while the MoD suggested the shots were a response to the yacht coming too close and that communication attempts were made via radio. The couple disputes this account, stating they did not receive any radio communication and deny claims of poor visibility.
Bias read (Right): The article presents the couple's allegations against the MoD without providing balanced counterpoints or additional context from the MoD beyond what is already included. The framing emphasizes the couple's perspective and implies skepticism toward the MoD's explanation, which could suggest a right-
Official sources cited
- government Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- press release The Telegraph
The Guardian (World)IndependentCenter4 days ago ‘We don’t want world war three’: yacht couple call for calm after Russian warning shotsA British couple aboard a yacht in the English Channel recounted their encounter with a Russian warship that fired warning shots. They expressed concern that the incident could be exaggerated and lead to unnecessary alarm, emphasizing that they do not want it to escalate into something larger. The couple stated that they were focused on continuing their sailing trip despite the event.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a straightforward account of an incident involving a civilian yacht and a Russian warship without taking a stance or using biased language. It quotes directly from the individuals involved and includes a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence, providing balanced information.
Official sources cited
- government Ministry of Defence (MoD)
The IndependentIndependentCenter4 days agoA British couple aboard a yacht that faced warning shots from a Russian warship in the English Channel claim the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) attempted to suppress their account of the incident. The couple, Jane and Alan Kelvey, deny being on a 'dangerous course' and refute claims that they used flares or radio signals prior to the encounter. The Russian defense ministry stated the yacht approached dangerously due to bad weather, but the Kelveys insist visibility was clear and no flares were seen.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the couple's account and the MoD's response without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from both parties and does not employ loaded language or one-sided sourcing. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the conflicting narratives presented.
The IndependentIndependentCenter4 days ago British retired couple recall ‘scary’ moment Russian warship fired warning shots near their yacht in ChannelA British retired couple recounted their experience when a Russian warship fired warning shots near their yacht in the English Channel. They stated that the Russian ship, the Admiral Grigorovich, approached their vessel and fired warning shots after sounding its horn multiple times. The couple claimed the Russian ship was not on a collision course with their yacht and suggested that the Kremlin's account of the event might be misleading.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the couple's account and the UK Ministry of Defence's description of the incident as an 'isolated incident.' There is no overtly biased language, and the narrative remains balanced between the perspectives of the couple and official statements without taking a clear stance.
Official sources cited
- government UK Ministry of Defence statement
Financial TimesParty-aligned🔒Center4 days agoA Russian warship fired warning shots toward a yacht in the English Channel. The UK has stated that this incident is unrelated to its recent interception of an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on an event involving a Russian warship and a UK statement, maintaining neutrality in its description.
Official sources cited
- government UK Government Statement
The IndependentIndependentCenter4 days ago Russian warship fires warning shot at UK-registered yacht that came near it in English ChannelA Russian warship fired warning shots at a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel, according to authorities. The incident occurred near the Isle of Wight, with no injuries or damage reported. The yacht's owners described the event as 'scary' and 'surreal,' denying any fault. The UK Ministry of Defence stated the shots were intended to avoid a potential collision.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the Russian military's account and the yacht owners' perspective without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from both parties and provides minimal commentary, maintaining a balanced tone.
Official sources cited
- government Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Statement
BBC News (World)State / PublicCenter4 days agoA retired British couple described their encounter with a Russian warship in the English Channel. The couple, Jane and Alan Kelvey, stated that they sounded their yacht's horn five times to signal they had noticed the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich. They adjusted their course slightly to confirm they had seen the ship. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the yacht approached dangerously, prompting the crew to fire warning shots after multiple failed attempts to communicate via radio and flares. The UK's Ministry of Defence called the event an isolated incident unrelated to the此前seí
Bias read (Center): The article presents both perspectives without overtly favoring one side. It includes direct quotes from the couple and references statements from both the Russian Defence Ministry and the UK's Ministry of Defence. There is no evident loaded language or one-sided sourcing.
BBC News (World)State / PublicCenter4 days ago UK investigating reports Russian warship fired warning shots near yacht in English ChannelA British couple aboard a yacht reported being near a Russian warship in the English Channel, where the ship allegedly fired warning shots. The Ministry of Defence called the event an 'isolated incident' unrelated to recent events involving a Russian tanker. The couple described the encounter as 'surreal,' stating the warship sounded its horn twice before firing warning shots into the air.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the account of the British couple and the official response from the Ministry of Defence without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from the individuals involved and provides context from official sources, maintaining a balanced tone.
Official sources cited
- government Ministry of Defence statement
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter4 days ago British pensioners targeted by Russian warship break silence on 'scary' encounterA retired British couple aboard a yacht reported being targeted with warning shots from a Russian warship while sailing near the Isle of Wight. The couple described the incident as 'scary,' though no injuries were reported. The UK Ministry of Defence stated the shots were intended to avoid a potential collision and were not directed at the yacht. The Russian ship was reportedly drifting rather than actively maneuvering.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the event without overtly biased language or framing. It includes direct quotes from both the affected individuals and the UK Ministry of Defence, providing balanced perspectives without taking a clear ideological stance.
Official sources cited
- government Ministry of Defence (MoD)
iNewsIndependentCenter4 days agoA retired British couple described a frightening experience when a Russian warship in the English Channel fired warning shots into the air while they were sailing their yacht nearby. Jane and Alan Kelvey reported hearing multiple gunshots and horn blasts from the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, which they claimed was unnecessary since they were at a safe distance and had no prior communication with the vessel.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a straightforward account of an incident involving a Russian warship and a civilian yacht without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from the couple and does not appear to editorialize or present biased language.
Official sources cited
- press release The i Paper
iNewsIndependentCenter5 days ago Russian warship ‘fires warning shot’ at Channel yacht days after Putin’s tanker seizedA Russian warship reportedly fired warning shots near a British yacht in the English Channel. The yacht, registered in the UK, claimed the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired shots approximately 500 yards away. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred around 11:40 am near the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters. The Russian vessel may have been attempting to avoid a collision. The Royal Navy vessel HMS Mersey was monitoring the situation, and a seaboat from HMS Tyne checked on the safety of the yacht.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of an event without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on the incident with neutral tone, citing both the yacht's claim and military insiders' perspectives without taking a stance. There is no evident ideological slant in the wording or emphasis.
Official sources cited
- court UK-registered boat
- government Royal Navy vessel HMS Mersey
- government Seaboat from HMS Tyne
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter5 days ago Russian warship opens fire on British yacht in English ChannelA Russian warship fired warning shots at a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel, according to defense sources. The incident occurred near the Isle of Wight and Normandy, involving the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich and a civilian British yacht. The yacht reportedly contacted French authorities, stating the Russian ship fired at a distance of approximately 500 yards. The event took place outside UK territorial waters, prompting responses from British and French naval forces.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of an incident without overtly biased language, framing, or emphasis. It reports on the event neutrally, citing defense sources and describing actions taken by both the Russian vessel and responding authorities without taking a stance.
Official sources cited
- government Defense sources
- press release Sky News
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