Istanbul. July 5. INTERFAX-The missile cruiser "Moscow" and the frigate "Admiral Essen" on Monday, after passing the Bosphorus, returned to the Black Sea, Istanbul observers reported, publishing photos of the ships passing through the strait.
Thus, the Russian military is strengthening the grouping of ships in the Black Sea at the expense of the missile cruiser "Moscow" and the frigate with cruise missiles "Caliber" "Admiral Essen", which are returning after the exercises from the Mediterranean Sea. They were there for only 17 days.
Earlier on Monday, the military reported that the ships were making the transition from the Mediterranean Sea to the permanent base of Sevastopol. "After arriving in Sevastopol, the ships will replenish their material reserves, conduct a scheduled technical inspection and continue performing tasks for their intended purpose in accordance with the fleet's combat training plan," the Black Sea Fleet said.
Major Sea Breeze maneuvers are taking place in the Black Sea with the participation of US ships, other NATO members and their partners.
The Russian military is monitoring the Sea Breeze exercises, the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation reported on June 28.
The Sea Breeze maneuvers involve 32 warships, 40 aircraft and five thousand military personnel from 17 NATO member countries, as well as alliance partners. In total, military personnel from 32 countries participate.
According to the US 6th Operational Fleet, during the exercises, combat operations at sea, on land and in the air are being practiced, including amphibious landings, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft warfare.
On June 26, the American missile destroyer USS Ross entered the Black Sea. It can carry up to 56 Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 1.6 thousand km.
The British destroyer Defender and the Dutch frigate Evertsen were also in the Black Sea from June 14 to July 2.
On June 23, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian military and border guards opened warning fire on the course of the destroyer Defender, which violated the Russian border in the Black Sea near Cape Fiolent (Crimea).
Defender was legally in international waters near the Crimean Peninsula, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters earlier. "I think he (the ship - "IF") could fully, reasonably use international waters, " he said. "An important point is that we do not recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea," the prime minister said.
On June 29, the Dutch Defense Ministry accused Russian aircraft of unsafe actions near the Dutch Navy frigate Evertsen in the Black Sea. According to the Dutch military, the incident occurred on June 24, when the frigate was near the Crimea. The Dutch side claims that Russian fighters flew for several hours at a dangerously close distance to Evertsen, simulating attacks.
