Overview
- A Russian frigate identified as Neustrashimy carried out a live-fire naval gun exercise roughly 40 nautical miles off Plymouth in international waters, with no reported escalation after the firing.
- The frigate warned the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tyne to move to a safe distance before starting the exercise, prompting safety measures and close monitoring by British forces.
- The Royal Navy tracked the ship during and after the exercise and a French military aircraft also monitored the activity, according to official and press accounts.
- Reporting cites the vessel’s main 100 mm automatic gun as the weapon fired, a rapid-fire naval cannon with a range of about 10+ nautical miles that can engage surface, air and shore targets.
- Commentators and former military figures described the drill as a visible Kremlin signal timed with UK political events, and the episode highlights ongoing maritime tension and the need for close allied surveillance in nearby waters.