“Completely unnecessary.” This is how British retirees Jane and Alan Kelvey characterized in an interview with the BBC the warning shots fired by a Russian warship in the English Channel near their yacht *Bright Future*, [reports](https://nos.nl/artikel/2618939-gepensioneerd-stel-na-waarschuwingsschoten-russisch-fregat-totaal-onnodig) NOS. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon more than 30 kilometers south of the Isle of Wight, outside British territorial waters. The shots were fired by sailors from the Russian frigate 'Admiral Grigorovich'. The Russian side claims that the sailing yacht approached too close to the warship. However, the British sailors categorically disagree with this. > “We were absolutely not on a collision course,” said Jane Kelvey. According to her, she and her husband left the British town of Lymington around four in the morning and were heading to Cherbourg, France. After some time, the couple noticed a vessel in the distance, which turned out to be the Russian warship upon closer approach. According to the couple's assessment, their yacht was about 400–500 meters from the frigate. > “It was stationary, it wasn't being swept by the current,” Jane said. ### Five sound signals According to the woman, when the yacht approached the ship, five sound signals were heard. > “When we got closer, there were five signals,” she recalls. According to her, this was the crew of the Russian ship's way of ensuring that the sailors noticed the military vessel. “We immediately changed course by two degrees to the left so they could see: we consciously deviated from our course and noticed the ship.” However, Jane stated that about a minute later, five blasts were heard again. > “Right after that, there were four or five shots that were not directed at us. We believe that the warning shots were fired into the air.” Despite what happened, the couple claims they did not feel fear. Jane even joked that she crouched down and pulled her hood over her head “to protect herself.” ### Versions of the parties The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the warning shots were fired after repeated unsuccessful attempts to establish radio communication with the yacht. Similar information was confirmed by the British Ministry of Defense. According to the British side, the crew of the frigate 'Admiral Grigorovich' did indeed try to contact the yacht by radio, but received no response, after which the warning shots were fired. The incident in the English Channel did not result in injuries or damage, but it caused a wide resonance. British sailors insist that they posed no threat to the Russian ship, while the military considers their actions justified. The circumstances of the incident continue to be discussed by both sides.