"To prevent border violations": the Russian Defense Ministry told about the incident with the frigate of the Netherlands Navy in the Black Sea

The Russian Ministry of Defense spoke about the circumstances of the incident with the Dutch ship Evertsen in the Black Sea near Crimea.

"On June 24, 2021, by means of objective control of the Black Sea Fleet over the actions of NATO ships in the Black Sea, it was established that the frigate Evertsen of the Netherlands Navy, which was in neutral waters, changed its course and began to move in the direction of the Kerch Strait," the message says.

It is noted that in order to prevent violation of the border of territorial waters, Su-30 fighters and Su-24 bombers were raised into the air, which flew near the ship at a safe distance.

The department emphasized that the flights of Russian aviation were carried out in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.

The frigate immediately changed course from the Russian border and continued following the previous route.

The Netherlands, in turn, previously stated that the actions of the Russian side were "aggressive".

Acting Defense Minister Ankh Beyleveld-Schouten said that Amsterdam intends to discuss with Moscow the situation with the Evertsen ship and Russian fighters.

According to the Dutch minister, the ship had every right to be in the place where the incident occurred.

“There is no excuse for such aggressive actions that unnecessarily increase the risk of incidents.

The Netherlands will discuss this with Russia, ”TASS quotes Beyleveld-Schouten.

The Dutch side believes that the planes were equipped with bombs and air-to-surface missiles, flew dangerously close over the frigate and simulated an attack.

After that, Evertsen allegedly experienced a malfunction of the electronic equipment.

Note that the incident with the Dutch ship took place the next day after the Black Sea Fleet and the border service of the FSB reacted to the violation of the Russian state border by the British destroyer Defender.

The ship, not responding to warnings, crossed the Russian state border and entered the territorial waters in the area of ​​Cape Fiolent for 3 km.

Later, the Russian FSB published a video of warning firing at the course of a British destroyer.

On the recording, you can hear how the border guards warn the ship's crew about the inadmissibility of violating the border and demand to change the course, after which they open warning fire.

Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov called the situation with the British vessel "deliberate and prepared" provocation.

“We regret that this was a deliberate provocation, deliberate and prepared.

We are certainly concerned about such actions by the British ship.

We consider such actions unacceptable and not in accordance with international law, ”said Peskov.

At the same time, he urged "not to make conceptual conclusions" regarding the future relations between Moscow and London.

“We really regret that such an incident took place, and we regret that it was obviously precisely prepared.

But we would not like to deduce from this tendency, we would not even like to assume that such provocative actions can enter the system, ”the Kremlin official said.

The Foreign Ministry also commented on the incident.

According to the official representative of the department, Maria Zakharova, “for such impudent calls and absolutely unceremonious provocations,” the Russian side will give a comprehensive answer.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said that the "fiasco" with the destroyer Defender in the Black Sea will remain a stain on the reputation of the British fleet.

"The epic fiasco of the provocation of the British destroyer Defender in the Black Sea, which abruptly changed course from Russian territorial waters after the warning shots of the escort ship, will remain a scent stain on the reputation of the Royal Navy for a long time," he said.

Konashenkov called on the US Pentagon and the command of the British Naval Forces "to be guided by reason" when sending their ships to the Black Sea region.

In addition, Russia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, said that the Russian side "certainly" will raise the topic of the incident with the British aircraft carrier in several formats at the organization's site.