A picture taken on Friday shows a ship from the Russian Black Sea Fleet (circled) shadowing USS Laboon , HMS Defender and the frigate HNLMS Evertsen
* Russia said a patrol ship fired warning shots and an Su-24 dropped bombs in the path of HMS Defender
* They accused it of crossing into their territorial waters off the coast of Crimea, which Britain denies
* The Ministry of Defence said no warning shots were fired and maintain the vessel was in international waters
* British military attaché has been summoned to the defence ministry in Moscow to explain the navy's actions
A Russian coastguard ship made a series of hostile threats to HMS Defender as it sailed past Crimea on Wednesday, before warning shots and bombs were fired in the Royal Navy destroyer's path after it was accused of crossing into territorial waters.
The British Type 45 destroyer was told, 'If you don't change course I'll fire,' after it entered the 12-mile limit of Crimea's territorial waters near Cape Fiolent in the Black Sea.
Moscow boasted that an Su-24 dropped four bombs in the vessel's path after it refused to back down and warning shots were fired from their patrol ship, but Britain has flatly denied the claims, saying the destroyer stayed in international waters and no shots were fired.
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WNU Editor: The UK is saying that this incident did not take place. I am not sure about this. The Russian Ministry of Defense is usually reliable on reporting incidents like this one. Did the Russian military send warning shots, but they were too far away from the UK destroyer to even notice?
Update #1: Russia is also busy chasing away US spy planes .... Russian Su-30SM fighter intercepts US spy plane over Okhotsk Sea (TASS). Sounds like this was a coordinated U.S. - U.K. - NATO operation.
Update #2: This is probably what happened. BBC’s Jonathan Beale, on board HMS Defender, says he heard shots fired but believed they were out of range .... Russian jets and ships target British warship (BBC)
More News On The Latest Incident Involving The Russian Military And A UK Warship
Russia says warning shots deter UK warship; London denies it -- AP
Russia says it chases British destroyer out of Crimea waters with warning shots, bombs -- Reuters
Russia says it fired shots, dropped bombs in warning to UK navy ship -- Business Insider
Russia says it fired warning shots at UK destroyer in Crimean waters -- DW
More News On The U.K. Denying Reports That This Incident Happened
UK denies Russia fired warning shots at Royal Navy ship off Crimea -- The Guardian
UK denies Russians fired warning shots at Royal Navy warship -- PA Media
UK denies Russian claims warning shots were fired at British warship off Crimea -- ABC News (Australia)
UK Says Warship Was on Routine Journey, Was Made Aware of Russian Drill -- US News And World Report/Reuters
UK denies Russia fired warning shots at Royal Navy ship off Crimea -- The Guardian
News From Russian Sources
Russia Says Fired ‘Warning’ Shots at British Warship Near Crimea -- Moscow Times
Russian Warship, Jet Fire Warning Shots as British Destroyer Violates Maritime Borders in Black Sea -- Sputnik
British envoy to be summoned to Russian ministry over destroyer incident — diplomat -- TASS
Russian Navy, border guards halt state border violation by UK warship off Crimea -- TASS
Russia views HMS Defender’s actions as violation of UN Sea Law Convention — statement -- TASS
