A British couple have described a terrifying encounter with a Russian vessel in the English Channel, where a warning flare was allegedly fired at their yacht. Sources close to the investigation confirm that the incident occurred in international waters, raising serious questions about maritime conduct and escalating tensions between Moscow and London.
The couple, who have requested anonymity due to safety concerns, claim they were sailing 12 nautical miles off the coast of Dover when a Russian-flagged ship approached at high speed. ‘We saw the flare before we heard anything. It exploded about 50 metres off our starboard side,’ the husband told this reporter in a phone interview. ‘It was a clear warning. We were terrified.’
Uncovered documents from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency suggest that the Russian vessel, identified as the *Admiral Gorshkov*-class frigate, had been tracked by Royal Navy assets 24 hours prior. The couple’s yacht, a 40-foot Beneteau, was not carrying cargo or weapons. ‘This was not a mistake. It was a deliberate act of intimidation,’ said a retired Royal Navy officer familiar with the incident.
The UK Foreign Office has officially condemned the action, calling it ‘reckless and unlawful’. A spokesperson stated: ‘We are in contact with the couple and providing consular assistance. We have raised this matter with the Russian Embassy.’ However, the response from Moscow has been dismissive. A statement from the Russian Defence Ministry claimed the yacht was ‘manoeuvring dangerously’ near a military exercise zone, and the flare was a ‘standard warning signal’.
This incident follows a pattern of aggressive behaviour by Russian naval forces in the Channel. In December 2023, a Russian submarine was detected conducting ‘unusual activities’ near undersea cables. Earlier this year, British fishing vessels reported close passes by Russian warships. The Channel, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, has become a flashpoint for what analysts call ‘asymmetric intimidation’.
‘This is about power projection, not safety,’ said Dr. Elena Voronova, a geopolitical risk analyst at King’s College London. ‘They want to demonstrate that they can disrupt civilian traffic at will. The choice of a yacht, a vulnerable target, is no coincidence.’
The couple, now safely docked in Ramsgate, are still shaken. ‘We just want to sail. We don’t want to be part of some geopolitical game,’ the wife said. Their story is a stark reminder that the cold war may be over, but the Channel remains a staging ground for high-stakes confrontation.
As this investigation continues, questions remain: Why was a Russian frigate in the Channel unannounced? What protocols failed? And who will hold Moscow accountable?
