Russia shocked over US' 'sore reaction' to fly-by

Russian aircraft that flew within metres of a US warship in international waters of the Baltic Sea was observing all required safety measures, the defence ministry said yesterday, expressing astonishment at the “sore reaction” from Washington

Moscow: Russian aircraft that flew within metres of a US warship in international waters of the Baltic Sea was observing all required safety measures, the defence ministry said yesterday, expressing astonishment at the “sore reaction” from Washington.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft, that flew over the USS Donald Cook. Pic/AFP

Washington yesterday criticised the manoeuvre, which was caught on camera. “Su-24 planes were conducting test flights in the area and “having observed the ship, turned away in observance of all safety measures,” the defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

“Frankly speaking, we don’t understand such a sore reaction from our US colleagues,” the statement added. “With the US Navy destroyer in operational proximity of the Russian navy’s Baltic fleet base, the principle of its free sea navigation does not negate the principle of free air navigation of Russian planes,” it said.

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