The Russian warship requested that the Royal Navy's HMS Tyne reposition to a safer distance, which it did. The Russian frigate was also being monitored by a French military aircraft which made radio contact with the warship asking it to clarify its intentions, the BBC has been told. It is not clear if this is the aircraft which made contact with the Russian warship. The incident will be a reminder for the new prime minister of increased Russian naval activity near UK waters in recent months. Russian warships regularly pass through international waters in the Channel, which are separate from UK and French territorial waters.