- A Russian naval vessel carried out a rare live-fire weapons exercise off the British coast on Monday, according to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, on the first day of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s tenure.
- The vessel, identified by British media as the “Neustrashimy,” conducted the exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles (around 46 miles) from Plymouth, a port city in southwest England.
- The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely and stands ready to protect UK national security, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson told CNN.
- UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting called Russia’s actions “performative and irresponsible.”
- Burnham vowed on Monday to continue “bearing down” on Russia in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- On the call, Burnham reaffirmed the UK’s “resolute commitment” to the people of Ukraine and underscored that there would be absolutely no change in the UK’s approach, including when it came to bearing down on Russia, his spokesperson said.
- Richard Dannatt, former head of the British Army, said Tuesday the exercise was a way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to show that Russia’s “got muscles that it can flex.”
- It is not known what type of weapons were used during the exercise, which lasted for 30 minutes.
- Conducting a live-fire exercise at short notice in international waters close to another country is a rare event and usually conducted with due notice.
A Russian naval vessel, the Neustrashimy, conducted a live-fire exercise approximately 40 nautical miles off the UK coast on Monday, coinciding with the first day of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's administration.12
The exercise, which lasted 30 minutes, involved the firing of the ship's main cannon and was closely monitored by the Royal Navy, which stated it was prepared to protect UK national security.38
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting criticized the exercise as 'performative and irresponsible,' emphasizing that it reflects ongoing threats faced by the UK and its allies. He stated, 'It’s the tip of the iceberg of the daily threats that this country faces and our allies face.'4
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted the timing of the exercise in relation to Burnham's support for Ukraine, suggesting it was a demonstration of Russia's military capabilities. He remarked, 'Of course, the arrival of the new British prime minister... indicates Britain’s intention to continue doing everything possible to continue the war.'
Former British Army head Richard Dannatt commented on the exercise, stating, 'It’s not entirely by happenstance that the Russian warship chose to carry out a live-fire exercise on the same day that Andy Burnham became prime minister.'7
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that such exercises are rare and typically conducted with prior notice, highlighting the unusual nature of this event so close to the UK coast.
“The Russian frigate Neustrashimy fired its main cannon for 30 minutes about 45 miles from Plymouth, in what defence sources called a highly unusual short-notice drill. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there was "no need to read any hints" but noted Burnham's unconditional support for Ukraine showed Britain's intention to continue the war.”
CNN
The Guardian
