Russia claimed to have opened warning fire upon British destroyer HMS Defender off the coast of Crimea in order to force the vessel out of what it believes are Russian territorial waters in the Black Sea.
However, Britain’s Defense Ministry immediately denied the incident.
According to the Russian military, the incident occurred at high noon on June 23 near the cape of Fiolent near the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol. The British warship reportedly entered the 12-mile zone off the Crimean coast, and, according to an official Russian report, was warned against “violating Russian state border.”
Minutes later, the Russian military said that a Russian vessel fired two warning shots and then sent a Sukhoi Su-24M jet to drop fragmentation bombs upon the destroyer’s course line. The destroyer reportedly left the 12-mile zone following the Russian actions.
Nonetheless, in its statement, the British said no warning shots or bombs had been fired at the vessel.
“The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law,” the Defense Ministry’s press service said.
“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 recognize the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.”
In addition, Ben Wallace, the UK’s Secretary of State for Defense, said the “HMS Defender carried out a routine transit from Odesa towards Georgia across the Black Sea.”
“As is normal for this route, she entered an internationally recognized traffic separation corridor,” the official said.
“As is routine, Russian vessels shadowed her passage and she was made aware of training exercises in her wider vicinity.”
The HMS Destroyer entered the Odesa port on June 19, as part of an official visit during which the Ukrainian and British officials particularly signed a memorandum under which the Royal Navy was expected to provide Ukraine with two Sandown-class minesweeping ships.
In his statement, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the incident “a vivid piece of evidence in favor of Ukraine’s stance.”
“Russia’s aggressive and provocative policies in the Black and Azov seas, occupation and militarization of Crimea, pose a threat to Ukraine and its allies,” the minister stated.
“That’s why I insist on brand new cooperation between Ukraine and NATO in the Black Sea.”
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said the country’s leadership and allies were consulting with one another on the issue.
“The armed incident in Ukraine’s territorial waters are a serious violation of international law.”
