Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said today that US and NATO warships entering the Black Sea are testing the strength of Russia's Black Sea coast and the protection of its southern borders.
"The Russian army is following those ships in the Black Sea and is not allowed to allow provocations on their part," Shoigu told the television "Russia 1", reports TASS.
"You know, when we see that a warship of a non-regional power enters the Black Sea and carries long-range precision weapons, of course we understand that it is not going on a tourist tour, we follow it and we know that at any moment some provocations are possible, as was the case recently the case with the British destroyer. Of course we have to prevent such things," Shoigu said.
He emphasized that the US "is not alone in such tests of strength and such approaches".
"As far as I understand, they are planning military exercises with our neighbors, with the Georgian and Ukrainian navies. But we also hold exercises and will continue to do so," the Russian minister said.
Currently, two American warships are operating in the Black Sea, the command ship Mount Whitney and the destroyer Portrer armed with cruise missiles, and they are closely monitored by the forces of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
The US Sixth Fleet previously announced that the warships were deployed to the Black Sea for joint operations with NATO allies and partners in the region.
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