The Neustrashimy conducted an artillery exercise with live ammunition about 74 kilometers south of Plymouth on Monday. The maneuver lasted 30 minutes and took place in international waters, a spokesman for the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) told the BBC.
The Royal Navy tracked the exercise with the patrol vessel Tyne. The Russian crew had previously informed the British of their firing intention and asked them to move to a safer distance – the Tyne complied. A French military aircraft also contacted the Neustrashimy and requested clarification of its intentions.
The incident underscores increasing Russian naval activity near British waters in recent months. In June, Royal Marine Commandos boarded a Russian shadow tanker in the English Channel. Additionally, a British couple on their yacht strayed near a Russian warship that fired warning shots.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
