A Russian warship has carried out a live-firing exercise just miles off Plymouth.
The actions of the Russian frigate Neustrashimy shocked authorities in the UK and France.
Neustrashimy was being tracked at the time by Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne and a French military aircraft.
The timing was said by some to coincide with the appointment of UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, as Sir Keir Starmer stepped down.
Insiders have said that the Russian warship asked HMS Tyne to move to a safe distance before it started firing.
HMS Tyne complied.
The French military aircraft asked the captain of the Russian frigate Neustrashimy what his intentions were.
The firing took place in international waters.
This is one of a number of incidents involving Russian vessels in the waters around the UK and what are perceived as increasing levels of threat from the country across Europe.
Most attacks are delivered via drones.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has documented 144 drone incidents across 13 European countries between August 2024 and February 2026, with Germany the most affected at 58 incidents.
Targets included military sites, civilian airports and energy infrastructure, and the drones are believed to have been launched from commercial vessels linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
What’s more, Germany elevated its national threat level to “high” on July 20, citing increased Russian espionage and sabotage activity.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned that “attacks on German territory must be expected at any time.” Berlin opened the German Centre for Combating Hybrid Threats and plans to expand intelligence powers for pre-emptive action against sabotage plots.
In response to a more dangerous environment, NATO members committed to $50 billion in new defence agreements at the summit in Türkiye, alongside a 20% increase in 2025 defence spending, framed as a response to a collective threat from a “Russia–China–North Korea–Iran axis” and a shift toward broader partnerships and a more European-led posture.
Also read: Russia launches drones at UK air base
