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A30 world news
Diahuebs 24 Juni 2021

Russia says warning shots deter UK warship; London denies it

(AP) — Russia said one of force to reclaim control of
its warships in the Black the country’s eastern indus-
Sea fired warning shots trial heartland, where a con-
and a warplane dropped flict with Russia-backed sep-
bombs Wednesday to force aratists has killed more than
a British destroyer out of 14,000 people in seven years.
an area near Crimea that Moscow withdrew some of
Moscow claims as its ter- its forces after maneuvers,
ritorial waters, but Brit- but Ukrainian officials say
ain denied that account many of them remain.
and insisted its ship wasn’t
fired upon. Speaking earlier Wednes-
day via video to participants
It was the first time since the of the security conference,
Cold War that Moscow ac- President Vladimir Putin
knowledged using live am- expressed concern about
munition to deter a NATO NATO forces near Russia.
warship, reflecting the grow-
ing risk of military incidents “We aren’t striving for a de-
amid soaring tensions be- cisive, unilateral military ad-
tween Russia and the West. vantage to tip the balance of
val ships. sa, where Ukrainian and forces in our favor,” Putin
The Russian Defense Min- “We saw the reports this British officials and indus- said. “But we will never al-
istry said a patrol ship fired “We believe the Russians morning,” said Max Blain, a try representatives signed an low anyone else to tip that
warning shots after the HMS were undertaking a gunnery spokesman for Prime Minis- agreement to collaborate on balance.”
Defender had ignored a no- exercise in the Black Sea and ter Boris Johnson. “It’s incor- boosting Ukraine’s naval ca-
tice against intrusion and provided the maritime com- rect to say either that it was pabilities. Russia’s relations with the
sailed 3 kilometers (1.6 nauti- munity with prior warning fired on or this ship was in West have sunk to the low-
cal miles) into Russia’s terri- of their activity,” the British Russian waters. HMS De- NATO members Turkey, est levels since the Cold War,
torial waters near Sevastopol, Ministry of Defense said. fender was taking the most Romania and Bulgaria border following Moscow’s annexa-
the main Russian naval base “No shots were directed at direct and internationally the Black Sea. Warships from tion of Crimea, accusations
in Crimea. It said a Russian HMS Defender and we do recognized route between the U.S., U.K. and other of Russian interference with
Su-24 bomber also dropped not recognize the claim that Ukraine and Georgia.” NATO allies also have made elections, hacking attacks and
four bombs ahead of the ves- bombs were dropped in her increasingly frequent visits in other tensions.
sel to persuade the Defender path.” He emphasized that Britain, support of Ukraine.
to change course. Minutes and much of the internation- In a speech at the same con-
later, the Defender left Rus- British Defense Secretary al community, does not rec- Speaking before the incident, ference before Wednesday’s
sian waters, the ministry said. Ben Wallace said the De- ognize Russia’s annexation of Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the incident, Defense Minister
fender “carried out a routine Crimea. chief of the General Staff of Sergei Shoigu said “the situ-
Russian Foreign Ministry transit from Odessa towards the Russian armed forces, ation in Europe is explosive,”
spokeswoman Maria Zakha- Georgia across the Black Ukraine’s Foreign Minister sharply criticized the deploy- and accused NATO of stone-
rova denounced the “rude Sea.” Dmytro Kuleba said it was ment of NATO warships walling Russian proposals to
British provocation that de- “clear proof of Ukraine’s near Russian waters. enhance security by refrain-
fies international law,” and “As is normal for this route, position: Russia’s aggressive ing from military exercises
said London’s ambassador she entered an internation- and provocative actions in “The moves by warships of near the borders of Russia
was being summoned. The ally recognized traffic sepa- the Black and Azov seas, its the U.S. and its allies have and alliance members.
Defense Ministry said it also ration corridor,” he tweeted, occupation and militariza- been clearly provocative,”
called in the U.K. military adding that HMS Defender tion of Crimea pose a lasting Gerasimov said at an inter- He said “the world is rapidly
attache in Moscow to pro- exited the corridor safely at threat to Ukraine and allies.” national security conference sinking in a new confronta-
test the destroyer’s “danger- 9:45 a.m. BST (0845 GMT; in Moscow organized by the tion, which is much more
ous move” and urged British 4:45 a.m. EDT). “We need a new quality of co- Defense Ministry. “It creates dangerous than during the
authorities to investigate the operation between Ukraine preconditions for incidents Cold War times.”
crew’s actions. & NATO allies in the Black and doesn’t help ease ten-
“As is routine, Russian vessels Sea,” Kuleba tweeted. sions in the military sphere.”
Britain’s Ministry of Defense shadowed her passage and
denied the Defender had she was made aware of train- In November 2018, Rus- He charged that the British
been fired on or was in Rus- ing exercises in her wider vi- sian coast guard ships fired destroyer HMS Dragon in-
sian waters, but had been in cinity,” he added. on three Ukrainian gunboats truded into Russian waters
Ukrainian waters. trying to pass from the Black near Crimea in October, and
Speaking to Parliament’s de- Sea into the Azov Sea and the U.S. destroyer USS John
“No warning shots have been fense committee, Wallace captured them along with 24 S. McCain violated the Rus-
fired at HMS Defender,” again denied Russia’s version crewmembers. It returned sian border in the Sea of Ja-
it said in a statement. “The of events. the crew and the boats the pan in November.
Royal Navy ship is conduct- following year.
ing innocent passage through “These are the things that In April, Russia imposed re-
Ukrainian territorial waters come and go with Russia,” he HMS Defender, a Type 45 strictions on foreign naval
in accordance with interna- said. “Disinformation, misin- destroyer, is part of the U.K. movements near Crimea
tional law.” formation is something that Carrier Strike Group heading until November in a move
we have seen regularly. We’re to the Indo-Pacific region. It that drew strong complaints
Russia annexed Ukraine’s not surprised by it; we plan was announced earlier this from Ukraine and the West.
Crimean Peninsula in 2014, a for it.” month that it would be tem- Russia rejected the criticism
move not recognized by most porarily breaking away from and noted the restrictions
countries, gaining access to Asked if Defender’s crew had the group to carry out its wouldn’t interfere with com-
its long Black Sea coast. Rus- seen or heard anything, he “own set of missions” in the mercial shipping.
sia has chafed at NATO war- said “initial reports say they Black Sea.
ships visiting near Crimea did hear or observe train- Earlier this year, Russia also
as destabilizing. In April, it ing noises somewhere to the Just before Wednesday’s in- bolstered its troops near the
declared a broader area off rear of her but beyond visual cident, Defender stopped in border with Ukraine and
Crimea closed to foreign na- range.” the Ukrainian port of Odes- warned Kyiv against using