Russian Shadow Fleet

Lord Harris of Haringey Excerpts

Tuesday 16th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

I have not got that in my briefing, but it is important to recognise the contribution that many have made through the ages, which is reflected in their families and their descendants today, and I take the noble Lord’s point. Alongside that, it is important that we look at how we more effectively work together across the international community to ensure that the sanctions regime is implemented much more effectively. As many people know, through history, economic sanctions and the denial of economic benefit to a country undermine its war effort, so we have taken action to do that. Can we do more working with our international allies? Of course we can.

[Lord Harris of Haringey (Lab)]

My Lords, it is reported on Sky News that the “Admiral Grigorovich”, a Russian warship, has fired a warning shot at a yacht in the English Channel. Should we regard this as being a sign of an escalation in the tensions between us and Russia?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

The noble Lord will not expect me to say too much on, as I understand it, an ongoing incident that clearly is potentially very serious, as I do not know the full facts of what has happened. I know it has been reported; I have just found out about it through a text on my phone, so I say to the noble Lord that he will realise why I do not really want to say much about it, given that I may, unfortunately, just add to the problem. It is certainly a developing story, as they say, and will need to be reflected on. As soon as I go back to the MoD, I will ask for a full briefing on what is actually going on.