The Dutch frigate was moving toward the Kerch Strait, Russian fighter jets and bombers were raised to prevent Russian border violations. This was reported to journalists in the Russian Defense Ministry.
Earlier, the Dutch Defense Ministry said that Russian fighter jets created an unsafe situation in the Black Sea by flying too low over the Dutch frigate Evertsen. The incident occurred a day after a British frigate violated the Russian border in the Black Sea.
"On June 24, 2021, the means of objective control of the Black Sea Fleet over the actions of NATO ships in the Black Sea established that the frigate Evertsen of the Dutch Navy, which was in neutral waters, changed its course and started moving in the direction of the Kerch Strait. To prevent infringement of the border of territorial waters of the Russian Federation, fighters Su-30 and bombers Su-24 were received from the forces on duty, which flew close to the naval ship of the Netherlands at a safe distance," said the military leader. They stressed that after the Russian planes flew over, the frigate immediately changed its course from the Russian border and continued following its previous route.
Russian Su-30 fighter jets and Su-24 bombers, which made overflights near the Dutch Navy ship at a safe distance, acted in strict compliance with international rules, the Russian Defense Ministry added.
"The flights of the Russian planes were carried out in accordance with international rules of airspace use," the Russian Defense Ministry stressed.
It is noted that the crews of the Russian planes returned to their home airfields.
According to the Dutch Defense Ministry, their warship was southeast of Crimea, and Russian planes "repeatedly disturbed the Evertsen crew between 3:30 and 8:30 p.m. local time." The military office claims that the planes flew dangerously close to the frigate, "carrying out simulated attacks." According to the Dutch military office, "the fighters were armed with bombs and so-called air-to-surface missiles designed to hit targets from the air." In addition, Evertsen's electronic equipment malfunctioned afterwards.
On June 23, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the destroyer HMS Defender invaded Russian territorial waters near Cape Fiolent in Crimea. Russian military and border guards fired warning shots at the ship, after which it left the borders of the Russian territorial sea. The Defense Ministry called the actions of the destroyer's crew a gross violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The British side claimed that the ship was making "a peaceful passage through the territorial waters of Ukraine". According to its version, the Russian servicemen did not open fire at the destroyer, but "conducted training exercises.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS