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UK denies Russia fired warning shots near British warship UK denies Russia fired warning shots near British warship
(about 1 hour later)
HMS Defender was in Istanbul earlier this month The BBC’s Jonathan Beale, on board HMS Defender, says he heard shots fired but believed they were out of range
Britain has denied Russian reports that its military fired warning shots at a UK destroyer in the Black Sea.Britain has denied Russian reports that its military fired warning shots at a UK destroyer in the Black Sea.
Moscow's defence ministry was quoted as saying that HMS Defender entered Russian territorial waters near Crimea while a patrol ship fired warning shots and a jet dropped bombs in its path.Moscow's defence ministry was quoted as saying that HMS Defender entered Russian territorial waters near Crimea while a patrol ship fired warning shots and a jet dropped bombs in its path.
But Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said no warning shots had been fired at HMS Defender. But Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said no bombs were dropped, or warning shots fired at HMS Defender.
It added that the ship was sailing in Ukrainian waters.It added that the ship was sailing in Ukrainian waters.
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement that HMS Defender was carrying out a "routine transit" and entered an internationally recognised traffic corridor. Crimea: A place that's rather difficult to get into
"As is routine, Russian vessels shadowed her passage and she was made aware of training exercises in her wider vicinity," he added. "HMS Defender was taking the most direct and internationally recognised route between Ukraine and Georgia," a Downing Street spokesman said.
The MoD said the Russians were carrying out a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided prior warning of their activity. He added that Russia had given pre-warning to the UK that it was carrying out gunnery exercises in the Black Sea near to where HMS Defender was sailing.
"No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path," it added. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement that HMS Defender was carrying out a "routine transit" when it entered the internationally recognised traffic corridor.
I am on board HMS Defender, in the Black Sea.
We have just completed a transit through Russian occupied Crimea's territorial waters.
This was a deliberate move by the Royal Navy warship, which is on its way to Georgia. Overhead, there are still Russian jets buzzing - at times there have been more than 20 aircraft above the warship.
There have been warnings from Russian coast guard vessels, and indeed we have heard shots fired - we believe they were out of range.
Throughout this transit, the crew on HMS Defender have been on high alert, and at one stage they did put on anti-flash masks to protect their faces, just in case there was going to be an exchange of fire.
They didn't think that would happen, and it did not happen. But the Russian jets have taken an interest in this, and they had warned the ship not to go into Crimean territorial waters, claiming that they are Russian waters.
The Russian coast guard tried to do a manoeuvre to make sure that HMS Defender altered course, but the warship continued on down that recognised shipping lane, and we could see the coast as it was within 12 miles (19km) of Crimea.
It is now sailing in international waters, but Russian jets are still buzzing this Royal Navy warship as we proceed into the next part of the journey, towards Georgia.
Russia said the incident happened near Cape Fiolent in the south of Crimea and - according to a defence ministry statement to Russian news agencies - claimed the British vessel subsequently changed course.Russia said the incident happened near Cape Fiolent in the south of Crimea and - according to a defence ministry statement to Russian news agencies - claimed the British vessel subsequently changed course.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 but this has not been recognised internationally.Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 but this has not been recognised internationally.
The British embassy's defence attachΓ© has been summoned to the Russian defence ministry, Interfax news agency reported. The British Ambassador has now been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Crimea: A place that's rather difficult to get into
HMS Defender is a Type 45 destroyer that is part of the UK's Carrier Strike Group. It is carrying out missions in the Black Sea, according to the Royal Navy's website.HMS Defender is a Type 45 destroyer that is part of the UK's Carrier Strike Group. It is carrying out missions in the Black Sea, according to the Royal Navy's website.
The warship was in the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa earlier this week, according to the British embassy in Ukraine. It said the UK and Ukraine had signed an agreement to jointly build warships and construct two naval bases.The warship was in the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa earlier this week, according to the British embassy in Ukraine. It said the UK and Ukraine had signed an agreement to jointly build warships and construct two naval bases.
Farewell to HMS DEFENDER πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Thank you for a fantastic time in Odesa πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Fair winds and following seas. βš“πŸŒŠ#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/xVSGKdNL4XFarewell to HMS DEFENDER πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Thank you for a fantastic time in Odesa πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Fair winds and following seas. βš“πŸŒŠ#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/xVSGKdNL4X