The U.S. European Command, however, said two Russian SU-24 jets made “numerous, close-range and low-altitude passes” on the Cook as a helicopter refueled on the deck.
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Two Russian jets and one Russian military helicopter buzzed the U.S. Navy Destroyer for two days in the uncontested waters of Baltic Sea.
A pair of Russian attack jets flew 20 passes on the ship Monday, coming as close as 1,000 yards at an altitude of 100 feet, ignoring radio calls from the Cook and forcing the ship to cancel flight operations. “One of the passes, which occurred while the allied helicopter was refuelling on the deck of Donald Cook, was deemed unsafe by the ship’s commanding officer”.
A USA official said the maneuvers were “unsafe” and “unprofessional” – and that the jets were so low they left “wake in the water”.
After Russian attack aircraft repeatedly buzzed a Navy warship earlier this week, the US and Russia have responded with what amounts to diplomatic shrugs.
U.S. Department of Defense officials have published video footage of an unarmed Russian Su-24 bomber flying over a U.S. Navy ship in the Baltic.
Just as the USA ship has freedom of navigation in worldwide waters, the Russian jets have freedom of navigation in global skies, Konashenkov said.
“Frankly speaking, even does not understand the reason for such a painful reaction of our American colleagues”, Konashenkov said.
In remarks to CNN Espanol in Miami, Kerry condemned the Russian actions and said that “under the rules of engagement” it “could have been a shootdown”.
Countering the U.S. accusations, Russian Federation said it was stunned by Washington’s reaction to the fly-by incident.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: “This incident…is entirely inconsistent with the professional norms of militaries operating in proximity to each other in worldwide water and global airspace”. “In my judgement these maneuvers in close proximity to Donald Cook are unprofessional and unsafe”.
A Russian Su-24 makes a low altitude pass by the USS Donald Cook.
The agreement prohibited “simulated attacks against aircraft or ships, performing aerobatics over ships, or dropping hazardous objects near them”.
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The latest incident “could signal another rise in tensions as the Western alliance prepares for large-scale exercises in Poland and bolstering its troop presence in Eastern Europe”, says the Wall Street Journal.
