A Russian warship has carried out a live-fire military exercise around 40 nautical miles (46 miles) off the British coast.
The vessel, which was shadowed by a Royal Navy ship, carried out the artillery manoeuvre south of Plymouth on Monday.
Moscow's warship, The Neustrashimy, has been escorting Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tankers through the English Channel.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday.
"The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel's activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security."
Before the exercise, the Russian vessel informed HMS Tyne of its intention to conduct gunnery activity.
It then requested that HMS Tyne reposition to a safer distance, which it did.
The exercise was carried out in international waters and lasted for 30 minutes.
This latest incident is the second Russian warship to escort a so-called shadow tanker through the Channel in recent weeks.
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Sky News' helicopter tracked The Neustrashimy as it was refuelled in the North Sea by a Russian navy ship earlier this month.
Last month, its predecessor, Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots at a British couple sailing a yacht.
That same month, the captain of another Russian shadow fleet tanker was detained by the UK and charged with contravening sanctions.
Royal Marine commandos and NCA officers landed from a Chinook helicopter and seized the tanker in the Channel 25 miles south of the Isle of Wight.
Earlier in June, the French navy aided by British forces, intercepted another oil tanker under international sanctions that was coming from Russia.
In March, the UK helped the French navy seize another vessel, a Mozambique-flagged ship called the Deyna, in the Mediterranean.
It was sanctioned by the UK and the European Union for its role in shipping Russian oil.
The same month then-PM Sit Keir Starmer allowed British forces to seize shadow fleet vessels, leading the ships to veer way from the English Channel.
(c) Sky News 2026: Russian warship carries out live-fire weapons exercise 46 miles off UK coast, MoD says
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