Russia, "Will Shell British Destroyer Black Sea if Further Provocation Occurs"

UK Prime Minister "Does Not Recognize Russia's Annexation of Crimea" Retaliates
Allied Naval Exercises Led by US Begin on 28th...Concerns Over Further Clashes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian government has issued a strong warning that if Western warships, including the British destroyer that clashed with Russian forces in the Black Sea, again violate its territorial waters in the Black Sea, they will be directly fired upon. In response, the UK stated that the area in question is international waters, not Russian territorial waters, and that its ships were conducting lawful activities in international waters, countering Russia's claims. With large-scale naval exercises led by the US and Ukraine imminent in the Black Sea, concerns about further clashes are growing.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 24th (local time), Sergey Ryabkov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, said at a press conference regarding the clash between the British destroyer and the Russian navy in the Black Sea the previous day, "Russia will protect its borders by all means," and strongly warned, "If Western countries fail to recognize this and provoke further, next time we may directly fire on the targets."

The day before, the British destroyer Defender entered waters near the port of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia claims as its territory, prompting the Russian navy to fire warning shots. Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov sarcastically said, "The name of the Defender destroyer should be changed to Aggressor," adding, "Those who test Russia's strength will face great risks."

The UK countered by stating that the waters in question are not Russian territorial waters. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a press conference that day, "We do not recognize Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula," emphasizing, "That area is international waters, not Russian territorial waters, and our destroyer was conducting legitimate activities in international waters."

Russia forcibly annexed the Crimean Peninsula in February 2014 amid large-scale anti-government protests in Ukraine and claims it as its own territory. The United States and the European Union (EU) have declared Russia's annexation of Crimea illegal and imposed economic sanctions on Russia.

In the North Sea area where the two countries clashed, the US Navy and its allies are scheduled to conduct large-scale naval exercises soon, raising concerns about further clashes between Russia and the West. According to the US Navy's 6th Fleet, from the 28th of this month to the 10th of next month, a joint naval exercise called "Sea Breeze," led by the US Navy's 6th Fleet and the Ukrainian Navy, will take place. The exercise is expected to include 32 US allied countries from around the world, including NATO member states. Russia has continuously condemned the exercise as an infringement on its territorial waters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.