The British Ministry of Defence has stated that their Defender destroyer did not violate the borders of the Russian Federation, but makes a peaceful passage through the territorial waters of Ukraine in accordance with international law. This is said in a statement by the press service of the British Ministry of Defence on Twitter.
This way the department reacted to the information that Russian border guards used warning bombardment against Defender off the coast of the occupied Crimea, and the Russian bomber used warning bombardment on the destroyer's course. The occupiers claim that the territorial waters near the Crimea they have captured are Russian.
"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. We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity. No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path", - the statement says.