2021 Black Sea incident
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2021 Black Sea incident | |||||
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HMS Defender at sea in October 2020 | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov |
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Strength | |||||
2 patrol boats | HMS Defender (D36) |
The 2021 Black Sea incident was a diplomatic incident between Russia and the United Kingdom involving the British destroyer HMS Defender while it transited from Odesa, Ukraine, to Batumi, Georgia.
Background
In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula.[1] The British government does not recognise the annexation of Crimea.[2]
On 21 June 2021, the United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a naval cooperation agreement onboard HMS Defender, whilst in port at Odesa, Ukraine.[3][4] Under the terms of the agreement, the United Kingdom will sell two refurbished Sandown-class minehunters to Ukraine and produce eight small missile warships for the country.[3] The United Kingdom will also construct a new naval base on the Black Sea as the primary fleet base for the Ukrainian Navy and a base on the Sea of Azov.[5] The agreement also provided for the sale of missiles to Ukraine, and for training and support for these.[5]
HMS Defender
On 23 June 2021, the United Kingdom's HMS Defender undertook a freedom of navigation patrol through the disputed waters around the Crimean Peninsula.[6]
In an account partially contradicted by the UK government, the
On 27 June, secret documents relating to the passage of HMS Defender through Ukraine's territorial waters were discovered at a bus stop in Kent. These documents revealed that the Royal Navy considered different hypothetical reactions from Russia in response to the ship's passage and was prepared for the possibility that Russia may respond in an aggressive manner. The documents showed the passage was a calculated decision by the British government to make a show of support for Ukraine.[16] The senior civil servant who lost the files had his security clearance suspended. He had been due to become a United Kingdom ambassador to NATO.[17]
HNLMS Evertsen
From 15:30 to 20:30 on 24 June, the Russian Air Force conducted a series of "mock attacks" on the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen that had been sailing in the Black Sea with HMS Defender.[18] Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the frigate of "dangerous manoeuvring" that was a "deliberate provocation".[19] In response, the British Ministry of Defence stated that "freedom of navigation is a fundamental right exercised by all nations".[20]
Aftermath
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended the decision to conduct the patrol as "entirely right".[21] Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that Russia would drop bombs "not only in its path, but also on target" if British vessels were involved in future incidents.[22] Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United Kingdom of "deliberate provocation" and stated that the United States sent a plane to monitor the Russian response.[23]
See also
- 1986 Black Sea incident
- 1988 Black Sea bumping incident
- Submarine incident off Kildin Island
- Submarine incident off Kola Peninsula
- 2003 Tuzla Island conflict
- 2018 Kerch Strait incident
- 2023 Black Sea drone incident
References
- from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 23 June 2021. Archivedfrom the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ "Russian military, border guards fire warning shots as British destroyer enters Russian territorial waters in Black Sea". Interfax. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Russia fires warning shots at British destroyer in Black Sea". Al Jazeera. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "UK denies Russia fired warning shots near British warship". BBC News. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Zarrin, Ahmed (24 June 2021). "Russia warns Britain over ship near Crimea, says video shows warning shots". UPI. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
- ^ Forrest, Adam (2021-06-24). "Moscow releases video of Black Sea clash with British navy — follow Russia live". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Chkhikvishvili, David; Ostroukh, Andrey (26 June 2021). Liffey, Kevin (ed.). "British naval destroyer that angered Russia docks in Georgia". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ Adams, Paul (27 June 2021). "Classified Ministry of Defence documents found at bus stop". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ Brown, Larisa (4 August 2021). "Civil servant who left files at bus stop was set to be ambassador". The Times. London. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Dutch frigate's maneuvers in Black Sea were intentional provocation — Zakharova". TASS. Moscow, Russia. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "UK comments on incident with Dutch frigate in Black Sea". TASS. London, England. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Faulconbridge, Guy; Golubkova, Katya (25 June 2021). "Russia warns Britain it will bomb ships next time". Reuters. London, England. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
External links
- BBC journalist reports from British warship as Russia "fires warning shots" from BBC News on YouTube
- Russia releases video allegedly showing HMS Defender from Russian aircraft from The Daily Telegraph on YouTube
- Boris Johnson says HMS Defender’s deployment ‘wholly appropriate’ from The Guardian on YouTube