Russia scrambles jets to ward off US warship in Black Sea
The Russian military has deployed jets to ward off a US destroyer in the Black Sea after it was found heading into Russia’s territorial waters, according to several Russian media outlets.
The US Navy destroyer USS Ross was reportedly heading in the direction of Russian waters Saturday after leaving the Romanian port of Costanta, when Su-24 aircraft were scrambled to head off the warship.
The Russian Navy jets forced the USS Ross to go into neutral waters in the Black Sea, RIA Novosti quoted a source in Crimea's security forces as saying.
"The ship's crew acted provocatively and aggressively, which caused alarm among operators of monitoring stations and Black Sea Fleet ships carrying out assignments in the Black Sea,” the source said, according to a translation of the comments as reported by Sputnik News.
“Scrambled Su-24 attack jets demonstrated a readiness to forcibly suppress border violations and defend the country's interest," the source added.
The Pentagon denied any unusual behavior by the US destroyer and said the USS Ross was "well within international waters at all times."
"The US Navy operates routinely in the Black Sea, in accordance with international law," Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Saturday that US missile ships operating near Russian borders pose a danger to strategic stability in the area.
The incident is the latest encounter between Russia and the US as tensions continue over the crisis in Ukraine.
HRJ/HRJ
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