The Black Sea Fleet is monitoring the actions of an Italian frigate with guided missile weapons, Virginio Fasan, which entered the Black Sea, the Russian National Defense Management Center told reporters on Thursday.
"The forces and means of the Black Sea Fleet started controlling the actions of the Italian Navy's Virginio Fasan frigate, which entered the Black Sea waters on July 1," the center said.
On June 23, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the British Navy destroyer Defender invaded Russian territorial waters near Cape Fiolent in Crimea. The Russian military and border guards fired warning shots at the course of the ship, after which it left the borders of the Russian territorial sea. The Defense Ministry called the actions of the crew of the destroyer a gross violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. On the next day the Russian military had to put fighters Su-30 and bombers Su-24 into the air to prevent the frigate Evertsen from crossing the Russian border in the Black Sea.
At the moment, international military exercises Sea Breeze 2021 are taking place in the Black Sea, in which Ukraine and NATO member states are taking part. The largest maneuvers in more than 20 years will last till July 10. According to the American side, 32 countries, about 5 thousand military men, 18 groups of land and sea special forces, 32 ships, and 40 aircrafts are involved in the exercise.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Italian Ministry of Defense
Based on materials from TASS