Russian forces fire warning shots at British destroyer in Black Sea: Interfax

Moscow/London, June 23

A Russian military ship fired warning shots at British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender after it entered Russian waters in the Black Sea and a Russian jet dropped bombs in its path as a warning, Interfax cited Russia’s Defence Ministry as saying on Wednesday.

The Defender left Russian waters soon afterwards, having ventured as much as 3 kilometres (2 miles) inside, the ministry said.

“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,” it said.

A Russian bomber dropped four high explosive fragmentation bombs as a warning in the British destroyer’s path, according to the ministry. The incident took place in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

No Russian shots were fired at Navy ship: UK

Meanwhile, Britain said on Wednesday no Russian warning shots were fired at a British navy ship in the Black Sea and did not recognise claims that bombs were dropped in its path.

Interfax cited Russia’s defence ministry as saying that a Russian military ship fired warning shots at a British Royal Navy destroyer after it entered Russian waters in the Black Sea, and a Russian jet dropped bombs in its path as a warning.

“We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity,” Britain’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Twitter.

“No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.”