US Military: Claim That American Destroyer Threatened to Violate Russia's Maritime Border 'False' - Sputnik International

The Pentagon has rejected claims by the Russian Defense Ministry that a US warship was approaching Russian territorial waters on Friday when a Russian warship intercepted it.

"The statement from the Russian Defense Ministry about the interaction between our two Navy ships is false," the US military said in a statement on Friday.

"While USS Chafee (DDG 90) was conducting routine operations in international water in the Sea of Japan on Oct. 15, 2021, a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer came within approximately 65 yards of USS Chafee (DDG 90) while the ship was preparing for flight operations. The interaction was safe and professional. Although Russia issued a Notice to Airman and Mariners (NOTAM/NOTMAR) in this area for later in the day, the NOTAM/NOTMAR was not in effect at the time of the interaction. At all times, USS Chafee conducted operations in accordance with international law and custom. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate where international law allows," the statement continues.

At 5 pm local time on Friday, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chafee was sailing in the Peter the Great Gulf, a waterway connecting the Russian port city of Vladivostok with the Sea of Japan. According to the Russian MoD, the Chafee had been operating in the area for several days, but at that time "approached the territorial waters of the Russian Federation and made an attempt to cross the state border."

"After receiving the warning, instead of changing course to leaved the closed sea area, the Chafee raised signalling flags indicating preparations for takeoff from its helicopter deck, meaning that it would be impossible for the warship to change its course and speed, and took action to violate the state border of the Russian Federation in Peter the Great Bay," the Russian MoD added.

Video footage published by Moscow filmed by crew onboard the intercepting warship, the Udaloy-class large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs, shows the Chafee's Seahawk helicopter powering up its engines as the warship plows ahead, the Tributs pacing it just 60 meters off its starboard side...