Russia warned the U.K. that it would bomb any British warships it finds in the Black Sea. The June 24 threat from the Kremlin followed a British Royal Navy vessel passing by the waters of Crimea – which Russia annexed in 2014. On the other hand, Downing Street has insisted that the disputed territory’s waters belong to Ukraine and the warship made no provocative actions.
British Ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert was summoned for a formal diplomatic reprimand over Britain’s purportedly “dangerous” action in the Black Sea. Reports said the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender set sail from the Ukrainian port of Odessa toward Batumi in Georgia. The ship’s visit to Odessa was part of an agreement between the U.K. and the beleaguered country, in which Britain will help upgrade the Ukrainian navy.
According to Russia, the HMS Defender had ventured three kilometers into Russian waters near Cape Fiolent at the southern coast of Crimea. The cape was located near the port of Sevastopol – incidentally the headquarters of the Russian Navy‘s Black Sea fleet. Furthermore, the Kremlin released footage from a Russian SU-24 bomber flying close to the British vessel.
The BBC released footage from the ship in response. The video showed a Russian coast guard vessel warning the HMS Defender that they will fire at the warship if it refuses to change course. The British national broadcaster added that as many as 20 Russian aircraft were flying around the ship. However, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed this version of the encounter and accused London of “barefaced lies.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the country’s news agencies: “We can appeal to common sense [and] demand respect for international law – and if that doesn’t work, we can bomb.” The official added that in the future, bombs would be dropped “not only in [the ship’s] path, but also on [the] target.” Ryabkov referenced Moscow’s claim that a Russian plane bombed the British vessel’s path.
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