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UK denies Russia fired warning shots near British warship Russian jets and ships target British warship
(32 minutes later)
The BBC’s Jonathan Beale, on board HMS Defender, says he heard shots fired but believed they were out of range LISTEN: 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. More than 20 Russian aircraft and two coastguard ships have shadowed a British warship sailing near Crimea.
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 said 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 bombs were dropped, or warning shots fired at HMS Defender. Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said no warning shots were fired.
It added that the ship was sailing in Ukrainian waters. However, a BBC correspondent onboard the warship said it has been harassed by the Russian military.
Aircraft could be heard overhead as the BBC's defence correspondent, Jonathan Beale, filed a report from the deck of HMS Defender in the Black Sea. He described hostile warnings over the radio as the navy crew prepared for a possible confrontation.
Our correspondent, who had been invited aboard the ship before the incident happened, describes more than 20 aircraft in the skies above the British ship - and says two Russian coastguard boats shadowed the vessel, at times just 100 yards away.
Russia claims the illegally-annexed peninsula and its waters are its territory, but Britain says its ship was passing through Ukrainian waters.
Crimea: A place that's rather difficult to get intoCrimea: A place that's rather difficult to get into
"HMS Defender was taking the most direct and internationally recognised route between Ukraine and Georgia," a Downing Street spokesman said."HMS Defender was taking the most direct and internationally recognised route between Ukraine and Georgia," a Downing Street spokesman said.
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.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.
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.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. On board HMS Defender
We have just completed a transit through Russian occupied Crimea's territorial waters. Jonathan Beale, Defence Correspondent
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. I am on board the warship, in the Black Sea.
There have been warnings from Russian coast guard vessels, and indeed we have heard shots fired - we believe they were out of range. The crew were already at action stations as they approached the southern tip of Russian occupied Crimea. Weapons systems on board the Royal Navy destroyer had already been loaded.
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. This would be a deliberate move to make a point to Russia. HMS Defender was going to sail within the 12 mile (19km) limit of Crimea's territorial waters. The captain insisted he was only seeking safe passage thorough an internationally recognised shipping lane.
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. Two Russian coastguard ships that were shadowing the Royal Navy warship, tried to force it to alter course. At one stage one of the Russian vessels closed in to about 100m (328ft).
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. Increasingly hostile warnings were issued over the radio - including one that said "if you don't change course I'll fire". We did hear some firing in the distance but they were believed to be well out of range.
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. As HMS Defender sailed through the shipping lane it was buzzed by Russian jets. The Captain, Vincent Owen, said the ship detected more than 20 military aircraft nearby. Commander Owen said his mission was confident but non-confrontational.
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.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the "dangerous actions" of the destroyer were a "gross violation" of the UN Convention's sea laws.
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 Ambassador has now been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.The British Ambassador has now been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
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 🇬🇧 Thank you for a fantastic time in Odesa 🇺🇦 Fair winds and following seas. ⚓🌊#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/xVSGKdNL4XFarewell to HMS DEFENDER 🇬🇧 Thank you for a fantastic time in Odesa 🇺🇦 Fair winds and following seas. ⚓🌊#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/xVSGKdNL4X