Deputy Minister Ryabkov demanded that NATO respect international law. And if these calls “colleagues do not understand”, Russia can strike not at the course of the ships, but at the target
Destroyer HMS Defender
Russia will defend the inviolability of its borders by both diplomatic and military methods. This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in connection with the incident with the British destroyer in the Black Sea, Interfax reports.
“We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law. If this does not help, we can bomb not just on the course, but also on the target, if our colleagues do not understand, ” the deputy minister said.
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Ryabkov noted that the inviolability of the Russian borders is an “absolute imperative”. “We will guard all this both by diplomatic and political means, and if necessary by military means,” he stressed.
The Deputy Foreign Minister warned against provocative actions of all those who violate the Russian borders “under the slogans of free navigation”.
The anecdotal nature of the situation when the border is violated by a destroyer called “Defender” (Defender) should not in any way set it up in a light-weight way. This is a very serious moment, we condemn the actions of the British side, we are outraged by their behavior and note that balancing on the verge of such a collision is fraught with grave consequences, ” Ryabkov added.
The incident with the destroyer Defender of the Royal Navy of Great Britain occurred yesterday near Cape Fiolent in the Crimea. As reported by the Russian Defense Ministry, the ship violated the country’s borders and plunged into territorial waters for 3 km. The crew did not respond to the warnings, so the patrol ship fired several shots, and the Su-24M fighter dropped four bombs on the course of the destroyer. After that, the ship left Russian waters.
The British Ministry of Defense said that Defender did not violate the borders, but followed an internationally recognized corridor. “The British Navy ship made a peaceful passage through the territorial waters of Ukraine in accordance with international law,” London said.
Having shot towards the ship, the crew, as reported by the British authorities, took it for military exercises conducted by the Russian fleet. The fact of dropping bombs on the course of the destroyer was denied by the Ministry of Defense.
Later, the BBC correspondent Sijonatan Beal, who was on board Defender, reported that the ship violated the border intentionally. According to the journalist, before entering the Russian territorial waters, the crew of the destroyer was alerted, and the weapons were put on alert. Beale explained that the ship’s captain intended to go deeper into the territorial waters, since this was the only possible safe passage in this area.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the statements of the British military department a lie and pointed out the discrepancy between the official position of London and the reports of the journalist from the ship. The British ambassador to Russia will be called to Smolenskaya Square in connection with the incident.