SIMFEROPOL, July 7-RIA Novosti. The head of the Crimean Parliament's committee on people's diplomacy and interethnic relations, Yuri Hempel, called British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab a provocateur of the highest rank after words about new ship passages off the coast of Crimea.
Earlier, Raab, commenting on the incident with the destroyer Defender off the coast of Crimea, said that the ships of the country's Navy will continue to enter the "territorial waters of Ukraine".
"Provocateurs are of high rank, but any provocation will receive a proper response. In the event of a repeat of the incident, Russia will be left with no choice but to respond harshly and adequately. Therefore, I advise you to come to your senses before it's too late. Russia will not allow anyone to violate its borders, " Hempel told RIA Novosti.
According to him, the British authorities should have recognized the democratic choice of the Crimeans, and not continue political games and speculation, identifying the peninsula with Ukraine.
At the end of June, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the British destroyer Defender crossed the Russian border near Cape Fiolent (Crimea). After repeated warnings, the Russian border ship fired a warning shot, and the Su-24M aircraft made a "warning bombing" on the course of the destroyer. The British Ministry of Defense and the government office claim that the destroyer was not fired at and was not in Russian territorial waters.
The British Ministry of Defense also stated that Russia conducted training exercises in the Black Sea and warned the "maritime community" about its actions in advance. However, a journalist who was on board the British vessel confirmed that the ship deliberately entered Russian territorial waters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a direct line that the provocation involving Defender immediately after the Russia - US summit was undertaken to show the West's disrespect for the choice of Crimeans. He noted that not only the British, but also the Americans participated in this provocation in the Black Sea - their reconnaissance aircraft tried to record the retaliatory actions of the Russian military. The President noted that the military development of the territory of neighboring Ukraine causes deep concern to Russia - it concerns the real vital interests of the country and the people.
