“Surreal” is how a British couple sailing across the English Channel described their encounter with a Russian warship that fired warning shots near their vessel.
According to Marine Industry News, retirees Alan and Jane Kelvey were sailing their 12m yacht Bright Future in international waters some 20nm south of the Isle of Wight on Tuesday morning (16 June) when they came close to the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence says that “following attempts to contact [the Kelseys], the Grigorovich fired warning shots”, adding that these “were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision”.
Russia’s defence ministry claims that the yacht was approaching the Admiral Grigorovich on a “dangerous course”, but the Kelveys dispute their account of events.
“As far as we were concerned, it wasn’t an incident until the gunfire started,” Jane Kelvey told the BBC’s Newsnight.
Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.
