Russia has warned Britain against&nbsp;unacceptable ''provocation''&nbsp;in the Black Sea after&nbsp;it&nbsp;fired warning shots at a British navy destroyer for&nbsp;violating the country's territorial waters,&nbsp;but the UK denied the incident had occurred.

Incidents involving Western aircraft and ships are not uncommon at&nbsp;Russia's borders, especially during heightened tensions with Washington, Brussels and London, but rarely result in open fire.

Britain said Russia was sowing inaccuracies and disputed Russia's account, saying no warning shots had been fired and that no bombs had been dropped in the path of the Royal Navy destroyer Defender.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told reporters during a visit to Singapore: "No shots were fired at HMS Defender."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-denies-russia-claim-warning-shots-fired-at-warship-out-of-crimea-waters-393624/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The Royal Navy ship was conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters. We were doing so in accordance with international law and the Russian characterisation is predictably inaccurate."

Russia's foreign ministry summoned ambassador Deborah Bronnert to deliver a "tough demarche" - diplomatic jargon for a telling off - and spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused London of "barefaced lies".

"We believe it was a deliberate and premeditated provocation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the incident, in which Moscow said it fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer.

"In the event of a repeat of unacceptable provocative action - if those actions go too far, no options can be ruled out in terms of legally defending Russia's borders," Peskov told reporters.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday slammed&nbsp;Russia's "aggressive and provocative policy" in the Black Sea region, describing it on Twitter as a "constant threat" to Kiev and its allies.&nbsp;

At the height of tensions over Ukraine this spring after&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;built up troops on its border and in Crimea, Moscow stepped up military exercises in the Black Sea and Washington warned it would send two warships.

Those ships were never dispatched, as&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;pulled back its forces and the tensions eased.

The Black Sea, which Russia uses to project its power in the Mediterranean, has for centuries been a flashpoint between Russia and its competitors such as Turkey, France, Britain, and the United States.

Russia seized and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and considers areas around its coast to be Russian waters. Western countries deem the Crimea to be part of Ukraine and reject Russia's claim to the seas around it.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia has warned Britain against unacceptable ''provocation'' in the Black Sea after it fired warning shots at a British navy destroyer for violating the country's territorial waters, but the UK denied the incident had occurred.

Russia has warned Britain against unacceptable ''provocation'' in the Black Sea after it fired warning shots at a British navy destroyer for violating the country's territorial waters, but the UK denied the incident had occurred. Incidents involving Western aircraft and ships are not uncommon at Russia's borders, especially during heightened tensions with Washington, Brussels and London, but rarely result in open fire. Britain said Russia was sowing inaccuracies and disputed Russia's account, saying no warning shots had been fired and that no bombs had been dropped in the path of the Royal Navy destroyer Defender. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told reporters during a visit to Singapore: "No shots were fired at HMS Defender." "The Royal Navy ship was conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters. We were doing so in accordance with international law and the Russian characterisation is predictably inaccurate." Russia's foreign ministry summoned ambassador Deborah Bronnert to deliver a "tough demarche" - diplomatic jargon for a telling off - and spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused London of "barefaced lies". "We believe it was a deliberate and premeditated provocation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the incident, in which Moscow said it fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer. "In the event of a repeat of unacceptable provocative action - if those actions go too far, no options can be ruled out in terms of legally defending Russia's borders," Peskov told reporters. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday slammed Russia's "aggressive and provocative policy" in the Black Sea region, describing it on Twitter as a "constant threat" to Kiev and its allies. At the height of tensions over Ukraine this spring after Russia built up troops on its border and in Crimea, Moscow stepped up military exercises in the Black Sea and Washington warned it would send two warships. Those ships were never dispatched, as Russia pulled back its forces and the tensions eased. The Black Sea, which Russia uses to project its power in the Mediterranean, has for centuries been a flashpoint between Russia and its competitors such as Turkey, France, Britain, and the United States. Russia seized and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and considers areas around its coast to be Russian waters. Western countries deem the Crimea to be part of Ukraine and reject Russia's claim to the seas around it. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia warns Britain against unacceptable 'provocation' in Black Sea

A Russian warship fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs Wednesday to force a British destroyer from an area in the Black Sea near Crimea that Russia claims as its territorial waters.

The incident marked the first time since the Cold War that Moscow has used live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting growing risks of military incidents amid soaring Russia-West tensions.

The Russian defence ministry said the Russian warship fired warning shots after the British missile destroyer Defender had ignored a notice against intrusion in Russia's territorial waters. It said that a Russian Su-24 bomber also dropped four bombs ahead of the British ship to persuade it to change course.

Minutes later, the British warship left the Russian waters, the ministry said.

The Russian defence ministry said it has summoned the UK military attache in Moscow to protest the British destroyer's manoeuvre.

Britain's Ministry of Defence said no Russian warning shots were fired at the Royal Navy's HMS Defender, which sailed into the&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;earlier this month, and it did not recognise assertions that bombs were put in its path.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender. 
 
The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law.
— Ministry of Defence Press Office (@DefenceHQPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceHQPress/status/1407670812262518785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity," the defence ministry said in a statement on Twitter.

NATO members Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria all are on the Black Sea, but warships from the US, UK and other NATO allies also have made increasingly frequent visits in a show of support to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the incident showed that Russia's "aggressive and provocative policies" in the&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;and nearby Azov&nbsp;Sea&nbsp;constituted a "continuous threat to Ukraine and its allies". In a tweet, he called for NATO to cooperate with Ukraine in the&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Sea.

In April, Russia imposed restrictions on foreign navy ships' movements near Crimea until November in a move that drew strong complaints from Ukraine and the West.

Russia seized and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and considers areas around the peninsula's coast to be Russian waters. Western countries consider the peninsula part of Ukraine and reject Russia's claim to the&nbsp;seas around it.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Russian warship fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs Wednesday to force a British destroyer from an area in the Black Sea near Crimea that Russia claims as its territorial waters.

A Russian warship fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs Wednesday to force a British destroyer from an area in the Black Sea near Crimea that Russia claims as its territorial waters. The incident marked the first time since the Cold War that Moscow has used live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting growing risks of military incidents amid soaring Russia-West tensions. The Russian defence ministry said the Russian warship fired warning shots after the British missile destroyer Defender had ignored a notice against intrusion in Russia's territorial waters. It said that a Russian Su-24 bomber also dropped four bombs ahead of the British ship to persuade it to change course. Minutes later, the British warship left the Russian waters, the ministry said. The Russian defence ministry said it has summoned the UK military attache in Moscow to protest the British destroyer's manoeuvre. Britain's Ministry of Defence said no Russian warning shots were fired at the Royal Navy's HMS Defender, which sailed into the Black Sea earlier this month, and it did not recognise assertions that bombs were put in its path. No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender. The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law. — Ministry of Defence Press Office (@DefenceHQPress) June 23, 2021 × "We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity," the defence ministry said in a statement on Twitter. NATO members Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria all are on the Black Sea, but warships from the US, UK and other NATO allies also have made increasingly frequent visits in a show of support to Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the incident showed that Russia's "aggressive and provocative policies" in the Black Sea and nearby Azov Sea constituted a "continuous threat to Ukraine and its allies". In a tweet, he called for NATO to cooperate with Ukraine in the Black Sea. In April, Russia imposed restrictions on foreign navy ships' movements near Crimea until November in a move that drew strong complaints from Ukraine and the West. Russia seized and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and considers areas around the peninsula's coast to be Russian waters. Western countries consider the peninsula part of Ukraine and reject Russia's claim to the seas around it. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia fires warning shots to deter British warship near Crimea

The Kremlin on Tuesday said it regretted that Russia's RT and Sputnik news organisations were barred from taking part in a global conference on media freedom in London, calling the decision absurd.

Britain on Monday said it refused to accredit the Russian state media outlets "because of their active role in spreading disinformation."&nbsp;

Some 60 ministers and 1,000 journalists and members of civil society are expected to attend the meeting on Wednesday and Thursday co-hosted with Canada.&nbsp;

"There can be no conference about the freedom of the press when journalists are barred from taking part in it," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

He mocked what he called "the absurdity of what is happening."

"We can only regret this," he added.&nbsp;

The Russian embassy in London previously condemned the decision relating to RT as "direct politically motivated discrimination" and said it had complained to the Foreign Office.

RT said in a statement that "it takes a particular brand of hypocrisy to advocate for freedom of the press while banning inconvenient voices and slandering alternative media."

In December, British media regulator Ofcom found RT had broken impartiality rules in several programmes broadcast after the nerve agent attack in the city of Salisbury.

Moscow has denied claims by London that it approved the attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in March last year.&nbsp;

Organisers of the London conference say it is intended to increase international discussion and cooperation on the issue of media freedom, including fake news.

A spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said journalists from other Russian news organisations will attend the conference.&nbsp;

The Kremlin on Tuesday said it regretted that Russia's RT and Sputnik news organisations were barred from taking part in a global conference on media freedom in London, calling the decision absurd.

The Kremlin on Tuesday said it regretted that Russia's RT and Sputnik news organisations were barred from taking part in a global conference on media freedom in London, calling the decision absurd. Britain on Monday said it refused to accredit the Russian state media outlets "because of their active role in spreading disinformation." Some 60 ministers and 1,000 journalists and members of civil society are expected to attend the meeting on Wednesday and Thursday co-hosted with Canada. "There can be no conference about the freedom of the press when journalists are barred from taking part in it," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. He mocked what he called "the absurdity of what is happening." "We can only regret this," he added. The Russian embassy in London previously condemned the decision relating to RT as "direct politically motivated discrimination" and said it had complained to the Foreign Office. RT said in a statement that "it takes a particular brand of hypocrisy to advocate for freedom of the press while banning inconvenient voices and slandering alternative media." In December, British media regulator Ofcom found RT had broken impartiality rules in several programmes broadcast after the nerve agent attack in the city of Salisbury. Moscow has denied claims by London that it approved the attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in March last year. Organisers of the London conference say it is intended to increase international discussion and cooperation on the issue of media freedom, including fake news. A spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said journalists from other Russian news organisations will attend the conference.

Kremlin condemns 'absurdity' as Britain bars Russian media from conference on press freedom

A British destroyer is shadowing a Russian naval task group as it passes the English coast, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Wednesday.

HMS Defender was called upon to sail over the weekend and keep watch on the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and three auxiliary ships as they neared UK territorial waters off Scotland.

It will continue to escort the Russian group this week as it passes through the English Channel, the ministry said.

"We will continue to work with our allies to shadow Russian ships passing through international waters close to our shores, to ensure the Russian navy follows the correct protocol on its journey," Armed Forces minister Mark Lancaster added in a statement.

Royal Navy ships routinely shadow Russian warships through the English Channel. Last May, Royal Navy head, First Sea Lord Admiral Philip Jones, said in a speech that Britain was facing "significantly emboldened Russian naval activity, which is continually testing our resolve".

A British destroyer is shadowing a Russian naval task group as it passes the English coast, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Wednesday. HMS Defender was called upon to sail over the weekend and keep watch on the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and three auxiliary ships as they neared UK territorial waters off Scotland.

A British destroyer is shadowing a Russian naval task group as it passes the English coast, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Wednesday. HMS Defender was called upon to sail over the weekend and keep watch on the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and three auxiliary ships as they neared UK territorial waters off Scotland. It will continue to escort the Russian group this week as it passes through the English Channel, the ministry said. "We will continue to work with our allies to shadow Russian ships passing through international waters close to our shores, to ensure the Russian navy follows the correct protocol on its journey," Armed Forces minister Mark Lancaster added in a statement. Royal Navy ships routinely shadow Russian warships through the English Channel. Last May, Royal Navy head, First Sea Lord Admiral Philip Jones, said in a speech that Britain was facing "significantly emboldened Russian naval activity, which is continually testing our resolve".

British destroyer shadowing Russian naval task group in English coast: UK government

Russia on Friday condemned British plans to open military bases in south-east Asia and the Caribbean and said it stood ready to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies were threatened.

British defence minister Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper last month that London was working on plans to build two new foreign bases "within the next couple of years" after it left the European Union.

Williamson did not specify where the bases might be built, but the newspaper reported that options included Singapore or Brunei near the South China Sea and Montserrat or Guyana in the Caribbean.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, on Friday described Williamson's comments as baffling and warned such plans could destabilise world affairs.

"Of course, Britain like any other country is independent when it comes to its military construction plans. But against the backdrop of overall rising military and political tensions in the world ... statements about the desire to build up its military presence in third countries are counter-productive, destabilising and possibly of a provocational nature," she said.

"In the event of any measures that pose a threat to Russia's security or that of its allies our country reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory measures."

Russia has military bases in several countries across the former Soviet Union and operates military facilities in Syria and Vietnam.

Russia on Friday condemned British plans to open military bases in south-east Asia and the Caribbean and said it stood ready to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies were threatened.

Russia on Friday condemned British plans to open military bases in south-east Asia and the Caribbean and said it stood ready to take retaliatory measures if its own interests or those of its allies were threatened. British defence minister Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper last month that London was working on plans to build two new foreign bases "within the next couple of years" after it left the European Union. Williamson did not specify where the bases might be built, but the newspaper reported that options included Singapore or Brunei near the South China Sea and Montserrat or Guyana in the Caribbean. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, on Friday described Williamson's comments as baffling and warned such plans could destabilise world affairs. "Of course, Britain like any other country is independent when it comes to its military construction plans. But against the backdrop of overall rising military and political tensions in the world ... statements about the desire to build up its military presence in third countries are counter-productive, destabilising and possibly of a provocational nature," she said. "In the event of any measures that pose a threat to Russia's security or that of its allies our country reserves the right to take appropriate retaliatory measures." Russia has military bases in several countries across the former Soviet Union and operates military facilities in Syria and Vietnam.

Russia condemns UK foreign army base plans, says ready to defend interests

russia-uk

Russia Uk, News on Russia Uk, stories on Russia Uk, articles on Russia Uk, Russia Uk stories at Wion, Russia Uk news, Russia Uk latest news

russia uk

Russia warns Britain against unacceptable 'provocation' in Black Sea

Russia fires warning shots to deter British warship near Crimea

Kremlin condemns 'absurdity' as Britain bars Russian media from conference on press freedom

British destroyer shadowing Russian naval task group in English coast: UK government

Russia condemns UK foreign army base plans, says ready to defend interests