Newsuk newsuk politics world news

Russian Warplanes Fly Over US Destroyer In Black Sea Amid Claims America Acting 'Aggressively'

Russian Warplanes Swoop US Destroyer In Latest Encounter With The West
Steven Hopkins
|

Russian warplanes have made several passes of a US destroyer sailing in the Black Sea, the Pentagon has said, adding that in no way has their vessel acted "aggressively".

The US Department of Defense said the ship, the USS Ross, was "well within international waters at all times, performing routine operations".

On Monday the US Navy released video of a Russian plane passing as close as 500m to the USS Ross, which is en-route to Rota, Spain. The vessel is undertaking a "routine patrol conducting naval operations with allies and partners" in order to advance "security and stability" in the Black Sea, it said. The mission had been publicly announced.

Open Image Modal

The US Department of Defense has released a video of a Russian warplane flying over the USS Ross while it was on a planned mission in the Black Sea

According to the BBC, Russian media have suggested the American vessel "acted provocatively and aggressively", something the US has denied.

The US Navy said: "Ross observed the routine flights of SU-24 aircraft and had no interaction while both operated in international waters.

"Ross continued on her mission after observing the aircraft return to base. At no time did Ross act aggressively nor did she deviate from her planned operations. The conduct of her crew has been and continues to be professional.

Open Image Modal

A still of the Russian warplane flying next to the USS Ross, taken from a video released by the US Navy

"The US Navy operates ships in the Black Sea on a routine basis, consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law."

The plane was not armed with weapons, according to reports.

A military source quoted by Russian media added of the encounter with USS Ross: "Su-24 attack aircraft demonstrated to the American crew readiness to harshly prevent a violation of the frontier and to defend the interests of the country."

Story continues below

Russia encounters in the Black Sea
CHINA RUSSIA MILITARY(01 of17)
Open Image Modal
A Russian Su-24 bomber is on display at the Russian Air Force Equipment Exhibition held following the Sino-Russian "Peace Mission 2005" military exercises, in Qingdao, a coastal city of east China's Shandong Province, on Friday, Aug. 26, 2005. (AP Photo /Xinhua, Li Gang) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
BELARUS AIR SHOW(02 of17)
Open Image Modal
Belarus' Su-24 bomber jets fly over a World War II monument in the capital Minsk while preparing for an air show, Thursday, July 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Sergey Grits) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
RUSSIA GEORGIA(03 of17)
Open Image Modal
** FILE ** A Russian Su-24 medium-range bomber, known by NATO as "Fencer," flies somewhere at undisclosed location in Russia in this 2002 file photo. Georgian officials said that a Russian plane of this type violated the nation's airspace late Monday, Aug. 6, 2007, and fired a missile which landed nead a Georgian village, but did not exploded .(AP Photo/File) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
RUSSIA-WWII-ANNIVERSARY-HISTORY-DEFENCE(04 of17)
Open Image Modal
Russian Su-27 jet fighters and MIG 29 jet fighters fly above Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin presideD over a huge Victory Day parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Soviet win over Nazi Germany, amid a Western boycott of the festivities over the Ukraine crisis. AFP PHOTO / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV via Getty Images)
RUSSIA-WWII-ANNIVERSARY-HISTORY-DEFENCE(05 of17)
Open Image Modal
Russian Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack planes fly over Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin presides over a huge Victory Day parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Soviet win over Nazi Germany, amid a Western boycott of the festivities over the Ukraine crisis. AFP PHOTO / POOL / HOST PHOTO AGENCY RIA NOVOSTI (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:- via Getty Images)
RUSSIA-WWII-ANNIVERSARY-HISTORY-DEFENCE(06 of17)
Open Image Modal
Russian Su-25 assault aircrafts release smoke in the colours of the Russian flag while flying over Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a huge Victory Day parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Soviet win over Nazi Germany, amid a Western boycott of the festivities over the Ukraine crisis. AFP PHOTO / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV via Getty Images)
RUSSIA INDEPENDENCE DAY(07 of17)
Open Image Modal
Russian military jets fly in formation over Red Square, with the Kremin's Spassky Tower at right, during celebrations of the Day of Russia in Moscow, Thursday, June 12, 2003. For the first time in 47 years, warplanes flew over the Kremlin to mark a national holiday, celebrating the rebirth of the nation. (AP Photo/Artem Korotayev) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
RUSSIA NATO(08 of17)
Open Image Modal
Russian President Vladimir Putin sits in front of a mural of warplanes during a meeting with top military officials at the Defence Ministry in Moscow, Thursday Oct. 2, 2003. Putin met with Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and other top military officials to discuss plans to reform Russia's military, which have drawn opposition from top brass. (AP Photo/Alexander Natruskin, Pool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
RUSSIA MEDVEDEV'S CHALLENGE(09 of17)
Open Image Modal
Russian army warplanes fly over Ivan the Great bell-tower and Moscow's Kremlin on Monday, May 5, 2008, during a final rehearsal of Victory day parade. The inauguration of president-elect Dmitry Medvedev will mark the start of three days of pomp and circumstance that will include President Vladimir Putin being named prime minister Thursday and the annual Victory Day parade Friday in Red Square. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Romania US Turkey NATO(10 of17)
Open Image Modal
Turkish NATO warship TCG Turgutreis, left, maneuvers on the Black Sea after leaving the port of Constanta, Romania, Monday, March 16, 2015, as an explosion takes place in the distance. NATO ships take part in sea military exercises in the Black Sea region involving ships USS Vicksburg, as well as a German auxiliary ship and frigates from Canada, Turkey, Italy and Romania.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Romania US NATO(11 of17)
Open Image Modal
US USS Vicksburg, right, maneuvers on the Black Sea after leaving the port of Constanta, Romania, Monday, March 16, 2015. NATO ships take part in sea military exercises in the Black Sea region involving ships USS Vicksburg, as well as a German auxiliary ship and frigates from Canada, Turkey, Italy and Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Romania US NATO(12 of17)
Open Image Modal
Servicemen walk on the deck of the US USS Vicksburg, docked in the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania, Monday, March 16, 2015. NATO ships take part in sea military exercises in the Black Sea region involving ships USS Vicksburg, as well as a German auxiliary ship and frigates from Canada, Turkey, Italy and Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Romania US NATO(13 of17)
Open Image Modal
A NATO warship maneuvers on the Black Sea after leaving the port of Constanta, Romania, Monday, March 16, 2015. NATO ships take part in sea military exercises in the Black Sea region involving ships USS Vicksburg, as well as a German auxiliary ship and frigates from Canada, Turkey, Italy and Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Crimea One Year Anniversary(14 of17)
Open Image Modal
Russian Black Sea fleet sailors take part in a military parade in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Russia on Wednesday marked the one year anniversary of the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. (AP Photo/Alexander Polegenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
US Navy Destroyer Arrives In Boston(15 of17)
Open Image Modal
BOSTON - MARCH 18: US Navy destroyer USS Ross arrives in Boston Harbor to dock at the Black Falcon terminal for St. Patrick's Day weekend. (Photo by David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
US Navy Destroyer Arrives In Boston(16 of17)
Open Image Modal
BOSTON - MARCH 18: The crew lined up on the deck of the US Navy destroyer USS Ross as it arrives in Boston Harbor to dock at the Black Falcon terminal for St. Patrick's Day weekend. (Photo by David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
FLEET WEEK(17 of17)
Open Image Modal
A woman takes pictures of the USS Ross missile destroyer as it enters Port Everglades, Florida, on Monday, April 25, 2011. (Carline Jean/Sun Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images) (credit:Sun Sentinel via Getty Images)

The incident is the latest in a series of border surveillance encounters involving the Russian military in the Black Sea, amid continuing hostilities in eastern Ukraine. European nations have increasingly had to scramble jets amid fears Russian aircraft were entering their airspace.

The US operate several warships, including NATO vessels, in the Black Sea, close to Russia's naval bases.

In the last two months the UK and Sweden scrambled fighters to intercept Russian bombers near their borders.

SEE ALSO

Nick Clegg Among Politicians Banned From Entering Russia As Moscow Hands 'Stop List' To EU Ambassador

UK 'Sleepwalking Into Russia Crisis' And We Can't Defend Ourselves, Experts Warn

Russian Planes And Warships On British Territory Spark Tensions With Moscow

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip