The Russian government on Wednesday said it fired warning
shots at a British Royal Navy warship on the Black Sea near Crimea.
Russia’s defence ministry said its fighter jet dropped bombs
on the path of the HMS Defender and a border patrol ship fired shots after the
warship entered 3 km into its (Russia’s) territorial waters.
The patrol ship reportedly fired twice and the Su24-M jet
dropped four bombs in the path of the British vessel.
According to the ministry, the British warship was warned to back off but it kept its course.
It, however, left minutes after the shots were fired.
“The destroyer had been warned that weapons would be used if
it trespasses the border of the Russian Federation. It did not react to the
warning,” the defence ministry said.
But the UK military said it is untrue that its HMS Defender
was shot at.
It said its vessel did not trespass but was only conducting
“innocent passage” through Ukrainian territorial waters “in accordance with
international law”.
“This morning, HMS Defender carried out a routine transit
from Odesa towards Georgia across the Black Sea,” UK ministry of defence
responded in a statement.
“As is normal for this route, she entered an internationally
recognised traffic separation corridor. She exited that corridor safely at 0945
BST. As is routine, Russian vessels shadowed her passage and she was made aware
of training exercises in her wider vicinity.
“We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise
in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of
their activity,”
“No shots were
directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were
dropped in her path.”
The UK and its allies do not recognise Crimea as Russian territory after Moscow annexed the region in February 2014.“As is normal for this route, she entered an internationally recognised traffic separation corridor. She exited that corridor safely at 0945 BST. As is routine, Russian vessels shadowed her passage and she was made aware of training exercises in her wider vicinity.”
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 23, 2021
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