A Russian Navy warship conducted a live-fire exercise in the English Channel while being observed by the UK Royal Navy and the French military on Monday, July 20.
A UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the BBC that the Royal Navy observed the frigate Neutrashimy while the latter was approximately 40 nautical miles off the UK coast.
The Russian crews reportedly informed the Royal Navy personnel on the shadowing offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Tyne that they were going to conduct the exercise and that the OPV should relocate to a safer distance.
Neutrashimy conducted the exercise with Tyne and a French patrol aircraft observing from a distance. The BBC said the aircraft made radio contact with the Russian crews to ascertain their intentions in the area.
The exercise took place on the same day that deeply unpopular UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped down from office, being replaced by UK Labour Party Leader Andy Burnham.