The Royal Navy shadowed a Russian warship as it conducted a live-fire weapons exercise about 40 nautical miles (46 miles) off the British coast.
Moscow's warship, the Neustrashimy, was positioned in international waters south of Plymouth on Monday.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel's activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security."
BFBS Forces News understands the Russian vessel notified HMS Tyne before the firing serial that it intended to carry out gunnery activity.
It requested that the ship reposition to a safer distance, which HMS Tyne did.
The exercise was subsequently conducted in international waters and lasted 30 minutes.
Increased activity
The incident reflects a rise in Russian activity in and around UK waters in recent months.
Last month, in international waters about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots near a British couple sailing a 40ft yacht.
Although the incident initially raised fears of Russian aggression, the MOD said the shots were not aimed at the yacht and were intended to prevent a possible collision.
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