Russian Strike Jet Flies Low Past US Destroyer in the Black Sea
A Russian warplane conducted a low pass near the USS Donald Cook on Sunday in the Black Sea, where the Navy has dispatched three ships for exercises.
The Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bomber screeched past the U.S. destroyer while it was operating in international waters, the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet said in a statement.
The @USNavy routinely operates in the Black Sea to reassure @NATO Allies & partners and ensure security & stability in the region.
Today, 🇺🇸 #USSDonaldCook operating in international waters in the #BlackSea while a #Russian SU-24 does a low pass nearby.#PowerForPeace pic.twitter.com/6JGNZoncZb
— U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet (@USNavyEurope) January 31, 2021
The Navy said it operates in the Black Sea to reassure allies in the region and “ensure security and stability.”
USS Donald Cook is operating alongside the destroyer USS Porter and USNS Laramie, which is refueling the warships during operations.
Refueling at sea is fundamental for the Navy, but doing it in the Black Sea is “a new operational model in a new year,” said Cmdr. Matt Curnen, USS Donald Cook’s commander. “Taking fuel at sea is the most concrete way for us to sustain independent operations.”
The arrival of three Navy ships in the Black Sea could signal that the service intends to bolster its presence there this year.
NATO has emphasized maintaining a presence in the region, which includes the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by force by Russia in 2014. But the time key allies operated there last year declined compared to 2019, a security analyst with the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank, said last week.
4A Navy P-8A aircraft also was taking part in drills with the vessels in recent days. But more Navy ships and planes in the Black Sea can also mean additional attention from Russian forces, who routinely track their movements.
The Navy didn’t immediately lodge any formal public complaints against the Russians for the Su-24’s low pass, though the service has criticized some Russian actions in the region in recent years.
In August, a U.S. B-52 bomber’s maneuvers above the Black Sea were restricted by two Russian fighter planes that flew in an “unsafe and unprofessional manner” when they crossed within 100 feet of the Air Force’s long-range bomber, the military said at the time.
In April and May, the U.S. accused Russia of multiple unsafe intercepts involving fighters flying as close as 25 feet from a Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft over the eastern Mediterranean. Russia has also lodged complaints about U.S. operations near its borders.
Source: Stars and Stripes
They must’ve been shitting their pants!
They did the last time this happened. Many sailors of the Cook resigned after that event.
By force? How is it no one died? They voted. Did Russia have a gun to every citizen to vote to rejoin Russia? Do not the Crimean’s have the right to choose their own destiny.
I would guess that after the last US (s)election, most should realize what America thinks about ‘any people’ choosing their destiny.
The Crimeans had a chance to vote on their destiny and overwhelmingly chose to rejoin Russia.
Our boys and girls proudly fighting for the freedoms, our constitutional republic and the American way we enjoy so much today,,, 12,000 miles from home.
“In August, a U.S. B-52 bomber’s maneuvers above the Black Sea were restricted by two Russian fighter planes”
Go ahead Swabby – make my day – as three USN ships sink into the Chernay More’ abyss. Along side of numerous Nazi boats.
The USS Donald Cook had a similar encounter with a Russian fighter in the Black Sea on 12 April 2014 when an unarmed Russian Su-24 “Fencer” made a dozen passes. Maybe its return trip is to determine if their Aegis system would be put completely off-line this time, as it was the last time.
Two things stand out in this article. No 1. Take a good look at the map supplied with the article, nowhere is America on the map, therefore it is the U.S. Navy that is doing the intrusian in foreign waters. No. 2. I quote, “annexed by force by Russia in 2014″ unquote. Since when, and on what planet did Russia annexed by force the CRIMEA ???? This claim is a LIE, and patently false. Russia has had a military base in Crimea for many years, therefore many troops are stationed there, before the Ukraine Coup, and after. The citizens of the Crimea were given the opportunity by democratic elections to choose for themselves, what they wanted for their future, they chose Russia, to the anger of the U.S. who still harbors grudges against Russia for defending Crimea against the Ukrainians. But hey, let’s not let the truth get in the way of a blatent lie hey?
If your going out to sea to Russia don’t take unnecessary chances. Make sure your boat is built by Hussenrod! (I don’t know how that is spelled) https://youtu.be/qtA2UslCTjE?t=319 Nobody knows why boats turn over………
You are quite correct. By a basing treat with the Ukraine Russia was allowed 25,000 troops in Crimea to defend their military installations. At the time of this event they actually only had 16,000, so they could have quite been justified in adding another 9,000. The Crimean Parliament voted by over 90% to rejoin Russia. Since then Crimea has developed in leaps and bounds, there is no dissent and everyone is happy.