Russia conducted the test outside of the UK’s territorial waters, but within its exclusive economic zone, leading to condemnation from London.

Russia has spent years rattling both its conventional and nuclear sabers—repeatedly threatening NATO nations with dramatic consequences if they continue to aid Ukraine against the Russian invasion. So far, these threats have not amounted to much, even as Russia’s “hybrid warfare” sabotage campaign across the continent has angered and frustrated NATO partner nations.

This week, Russia took its brinkmanship even further, ordering a Russian warship to conduct a live-fire drill in waters near the south coast of the UK. The Neustrashimy (hull number 712), the first ship in its namesake class, fired its main 100mm automated naval cannon on Monday morning, with the drills lasting for around half an hour.

The Russian Navy vessel, which was commissioned in 1993 and completed a decade-long refit in early 2023, announced in advance it would fire its guns. The warship was operating just 40 nautical miles (46 miles) from the port city of Plymouth in southwest England. The frigate was outside of the UK’s territorial waters—which typically extend 12 nautical miles (13.8 miles) off a nation’s coastline—but within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the maritime area extending up to 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from a country’s coast. Within this zone, coastal states possess the sole sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage all natural resources, including fishing, oil extraction, and wind energy.

At the time of the drill, the Neustrashimy was being shadowed by the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tyne, which withdrew to a safe distance during the test. French aircraft, which were also monitoring the movements of the Russian vessel, also made radio contact with the frigate prior to the drills.

The Russian Neustrashimy-Class Frigate’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 1993
• Number Built: 2 (7 planned)
• Length: 129.6 meters (425 ft 2 in)
• Beam: 15.6 meters (51 ft 2 in)
• Displacement: 
  • 3,800–3,950 tons (standard)
  • 4,300–4,400 tons (full load)
• Propulsion: COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas) engines, two (2) M90 and two (2) M70 gas turbines
• Maximum Speed: 30 knots (34.5 mph, 55.56 km/h)
• Range: 4,500 nautical miles (5,178 mi, 8,334 km) at 16 knots
• Armament:
  • Anti-Submarine: One (1) 12-tube RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher and 6 × 533mm torpedo tubes
  • Anti-Ship: Two (2) 4 quad launchers for Kh-35 (SS-N-25 Uran) anti-ship missiles
  • Anti-Aircraft: Four (4) 8-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells for 32 3K95 Kinzhal (SA-N-9 Gauntlet) surface-to-air missiles; two (2) Kashtan Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), combining 30mm rotary cannons with 9M311-1 missiles
• Crew: 210 (35 officers, 175 enlisted)

The frigate Neustrashimy is the lead vessel of the Project 11540 Yastreb (Russian for “Hawk”). Designed as general-purpose anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates, the warships are also equipped with anti-ship cruise missiles and deck guns to engage hostile surface vessels. In addition, the Project 11540 frigates can serve in an air defense role to protect accompanying fleets from aircraft and incoming missile threats.

Although seven of the frigates have been planned, only two have been completed, and this will likely remain the case for some time, as the war in Ukraine has consumed the efforts of Russia’s war machine and the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet is a relatively low priority. Both the Neustrashimy and her sister ship, the Yaroslav Mudry, were built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia’s exclave along the Baltic Sea coastline.

Russia’s Live-Fire Drill Coincided with Andy Burnham’s Inauguration

The incident in the English Channel came as the new Labour Party leader, Andy Burnham, took office as the prime minister—becoming the seventh British PM in just a decade.

Gen. Richard Dannatt, the former chief of the general staff of the British Army from 2006 to 2009, told The Times newspaper that the decision to conduct a live-fire exercise on Monday was “not entirely by happenstance.”

“I think it’s another illustration of the aggressive instinct shown by Vladimir Putin, of course most clearly demonstrated by his attack on Ukraine,” Dannatt said.

The previously unannounced drills also took place just a month after Royal Marine Commandos boarded a suspected Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker that was transiting the English Channel. The six-hour operation “was the first of its kind by UK armed forces,” The Times reported.

A few days after that operation, another Russian Navy frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots in the direction of a UK-registered civilian yacht operating in the English Channel. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that the course of the yacht, owned by retirees Jane and Alan Kelvey, put it on a “dangerous approach” to the warship. The Kelveys disputed that claim.

Russian warships have increasingly transited through the international waters of the English Channel, but Moscow has increased its presence in recent years.

“All exercises and actions of our warships are carried out in strict accordance with international maritime law,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Therefore, there is no need to see any hints here. But, in turn, of course, the arrival of the new UK Prime Minister, probably one of his first actions was the remark of unconditional support for Ukraine, therefore, about Britain’s intention to keep doing everything for the war to continue. This is a fact, which we, of course, are noting.”

Russia’s brinksmanship will likely continue, but the hope is that neither side escalates matters so that a live-fire drill turns into something far more serious and potentially deadlier. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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