Russian Warship Fires Main Cannon In A Short Notice Test 45 Miles South Of Plymouth,U.K

A Russian naval ship fired its main cannon in a live-fire test, 45 miles south of Plymouth, U.K, on the same day when Andy Burnham was appointed as prime minister of the country.

The 130 m long Neustrashimy, on short notice, announced that it wanted to carry out a short drill in the morning and requested HMS Tyne, a British warship, which was tracking it, to retreat to a safe distance.

The Russian Warship carried out a 30-minute live fire drill at 9:30 am in international waters, with HMS Tyne monitoring it from five miles away.

The Neustrashimy has a 100 mm cannon which can fire 50 rounds a minute at a range of 20 kilometres. The warship also carries anti-cruise missiles and Gatling rotary machine guns.

Wes Streeting, UK defence secretary, called the act “performative and irresponsible”.

Russian and British diplomatic relations have remained tense for a long time. An oil tanker linked with Russia was seized in the Channel by Royal Marines last month, after which Russia warned to retaliate against the act.

Russian naval vessels have maintained their continued presence in British waters for most of the year.

In June, frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots within a few hundred metres of a British couple on a pleasure yacht.

British officials said that they did not remember the last time a Russian vessel test-fired so close to the U.K and at such short notice, which makes this a rare incident.

Such firing exercises are conducted with special care, with prior notice, especially in the Channel, which is one of the world’s busiest commercial waterways.

The Neustrashimy has replaced the Admiral Grigorovich, which had been on an extended three-month deployment in the Channel or the North Sea.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, said Russian warships always acted “in strict accordance” with international and maritime law.