Moscow admitted using live ammunition to stop a NATO warship for the first time since the Cold War. This reflects the increasing risk of military incidents in the midst of rising tensions between Russia, the West and Russia.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a patrol vessel fired warning shots after HMS Defender ignored an intrusion notice and went 3 km (1.6 nautical miles), into Russian territorial waters. It was located near Sevastopol which is the main Russian naval base in Crimea. The Russian Defense Ministry said that a Su-24 Russian bomber dropped four bombs in front of the Defender to force it to change its course. The ministry reported that the Defender was seen leaving Russian waters minutes later.
Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said that the British provocations were “rude” and defied international law. She also stated that London was being summoned. According to the Defense Ministry, it also summoned the U.K. military attache to Moscow to protest the “dangerous” move of the destroyer and asked British authorities to investigate.
The Ministry of Defense of Britain denied that the Defender was fired upon or was in Russian waters. However, it had been in Ukrainian waters.
It stated that HMS Defender was safe and sound, adding that no warning shots had been fired. “The Royal Navy ship is allowing an innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters, in accordance to international law.”
Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014. This was a move that was not recognized by most countries. It gained access to its long Black Sea coastline. Russia has decried NATO warships that have been visiting Crimea. It declared an area further from Crimea closed off to foreign naval vessels in April.
The British Ministry of Defense stated that they believed the Russians were conducting a gunnery drill in the Black Sea. They also provided prior notice to the maritime community. “No shots were fired at HMS Defender, and we don’t recognize the claim that bombs were dropped in its path.”
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated that the Defender made a routine transit across the Black Sea from Odessa to Georgia.
He tweeted that HMS Defender had entered an internationally recognised traffic separation corridor “as is usual for this route”, adding that HMS Defender had safely exited the corridor at 9:45 AM BST (0845 GMT, 4:45 A.M. EDT).
He said, “As it is routine, Russian vessels shadowed the passage of her and she was made aware that training exercises were being conducted in her wider surroundings.”
Wallace denied Russia’s version of events when he spoke to the defence committee of Parliament.
He said, “These are the things which come and go with Russia.” “Disinformation and misinformation are something we have seen frequently. It’s not surprising to us. We plan for it.
When asked if Defender’s crew saw or heard anything, he replied that “initial reports” said they had observed training noises to her rear but not within visual range.
Max Blain, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, stated that he had seen the reports. It is incorrect to state that the ship was either fired upon or was in Russian waters. HMS Defender was the direct route internationally recognised between Ukraine and Georgia.
He stressed that Britain and most of the international community do not recognize Russia’s annexation Crimea.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, stated that it was “clear evidence of Ukraine’s situation: Russia’s aggressive & provocative actions in Black and Azov Seas, its occupation of Crimea and militarization pose a lasting danger to Ukraine and its allies.”
Kuleba tweeted, “We need a new level of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO allies in Black Sea.”
Three Ukrainian gunboats were trying to cross the Black Sea into Azov Sea. In November 2018, Russian coast guard vessels fired upon them and captured 24 crewmembers. The crew and boats were returned to them the next year.
HMS Defender is a Type 45 destroyer and part of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group headed to the Indo-Pacific. It was announced that the ship would temporarily separate from the group in order to pursue its own set of missions in the Black Sea.
Defender made a stop in Odessa (Ukraine) just before Wednesday’s incident. There, British and Ukrainian officials, as well as representatives from industry, signed an agreement for cooperation to boost Ukraine’s naval capabilities.
NATO members Turkey and Romania border the Black Sea. In support of Ukraine, warships from the U.S. and U.K. have been making more frequent visits.
General Valery Gerasimov of Russia’s Armed Forces, who was the head of the General Staff, strongly criticized NATO warship deployments in Russian waters.
Gerasimov stated that the provocative moves of warships from the U.S. and its allies were clear at an international security conference held in Moscow by the Defense Ministry. It creates conditions for future incidents and doesn’t ease tensions within the military sphere.
He claimed that HMS Dragon, the British destroyer, invaded Russian waters near Crimea in Oct and USS John S. McCain infringed on the Russian border in Sea of Japan in Nov.
Russia placed restrictions on foreign naval movements in the vicinity of Crimea from April to November. This move was strongly criticized by Ukraine and the West. Russia denied the criticism and said that the restrictions would not affect commercial shipping.
Russia warned Kyiv not to use force to reclaim the country’s eastern industrial center. This is where Russia-backed separatists have killed more than 14,000 people over the past seven years. Some of Moscow’s forces were removed after maneuvers, however, Ukrainian officials claim that many are still there.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, expressed concern over NATO forces in Russia earlier Wednesday.
Putin stated that he was not seeking a unilateral, decisive military advantage to tip the balance in our favor. “But we won’t allow anyone to tip that balance.”
Russia’s relations to the West have fallen to their lowest level since the Cold War. This was due to Russia’s annexation Crimea and accusations of Russian interference in elections.
Sergei Shoigu, the Defense Minister, said that “the situation is explosive” at Wednesday’s conference. He also accused NATO of ignoring Russian security proposals by avoiding military exercises near Russia’s borders and other alliance members.
He stated that the world was rapidly sinking due to a new confrontation which is more dangerous than in Cold War times.
