The Royal Navy has been scrambled to the English Channel after a Russian warship fired warning shots near a British yacht. The incident, which sources describe as a 'close call,' has sent shockwaves through Whitehall. The yacht, reportedly a pleasure craft, strayed too close to the Russian vessel during what the Kremlin claims were routine exercises.
The shots were fired across the bow, a clear violation of maritime norms but technically legal in disputed waters. The Navy's response was immediate: a Type 23 frigate was diverted to the scene, shadowing the Russian ship as it left British waters. The Prime Minister's office has remained tight-lipped, but Downing Street sources indicate that a formal protest is being drafted.
The Foreign Office is bracing for a tense exchange with Moscow. The incident is a stark reminder of the fragility of naval protocol. Words are cheap.
At sea, they use shot and shell.
