The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom stated that the warship made a peaceful passage in the Black Sea near Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
The passage of a British warship on June 23 was a demonstration of non-recognition of the occupation of Crimean peninsula by Russia.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson confirmed the purposeful actions of the British warship in the Black Sea, which, according to Russia, on Wednesday’s incidens “violated Russian territorial waters” near the port of Sevastopol.
“The important thing is that we do not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea. It is part of the sovereign Ukrainian territory. It is absolutely right to uphold the law and seek freedom of navigation by choosing the shortest path between the two points, “Johnson said.
Russia’s actions against the British destroyer Defender are reminiscent of the shelling and seizure by Russians of Ukrainian boats in 2018, when they tried to pass from the Black Sea to the Ukrainian port in the Sea of Azov.
Ex-commander of the US Armed Forces in Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges greeted how professionally Royal Navy succeeded very well-planned operation by the Defender destroyer.
The British government does not rule out future crossings in the Black Sea near the occupied Crimea.