Why are Russian warships in the English Channel? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 17, 2026 · 21 MIN

Why are Russian warships in the English Channel?

from This Is Why

"Just one of those things." A typically British response to an unprecedented act of belligerence. When Alan and Jane Kelvey took their yacht out for a sail across the English Channel, the last thing they expected was to be at the centre of a huge diplomatic incident. But when a Russian-flagged frigate fired warning shots as the couple sailed nearby, it was yet another sign of the breakdown in relations between the Kremlin and the UK. Was this an indirect response to the impounding of a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker by British forces? Why are Moscow’s warships operating so close to the UK coastline in the first place? And is it another example of the Royal Navy's lack of resources? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s military analyst Professor Michael Clarke. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: [email protected]

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 17, 2026

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Why are Russian warships in the English Channel?

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