A Russian warship fired warning shots a a British destroyer in the Black Sea to deter it from entering Russia’s waters near Crimea, the Russian Defence Ministry said.
The Russians said their warship fired after the British missile destroyer HMS Defender ignored a notice against intrusion in Russia’s territorial waters.
In unverified reports the Russians said that one of their Su-24 bombers also dropped bombs ahead of the British ship to persuade it to change course
Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, a move that wasn’t recognised by most countries in the world.
Russia has frequently run up against NATO warships visits to the Black Sea even though NATO members Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria all border the Black Sea.
The Ministry of Defence has dismissed reports from Russia that warning shots were fired at HMS Defender, insisting it was a routine gunnery exercise and the Royal Navy vessel was "conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law".
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said HMS Defender was "shadowed" by Russian vessels and "she was made aware of training exercises" in the area.
HMS Defender carried out a "routine transit" from Odessa towards Georgia across the Black Sea, he said.
"As is normal for this route, she entered an internationally recognised traffic separation corridor.
"She exited that corridor safely at 0945 BST.
"As is routine, Russian vessels shadowed her passage and she was made aware of training exercises in her wider vicinity."
