"We were on a straight course..." Britain does not recognize the waters near Crimea as Russian

The media and social networks are discussing the military-diplomatic scandal that erupted around the British destroyer Defender. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, in its statement to the British military attaché in Moscow, "Defender" "violated the state border of the Russian Federation and entered the territorial sea near Cape Fiolent, deeper three kilometers".

For its part, the British Defense Department notes that "Defender" followed "the most direct and internationally recognized path between Ukraine and Georgia". At the same time, his statement emphasizes that "Great Britain does not recognize Russian claims to Crimea and will continue to adhere to the international consensus that the Russian annexation of Crimea is illegal".

Moreover, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that the Russian military allegedly opened warning fire on the course of this warship near the coast of Crimea. Russian bombers used four bombs, the Russian defense ministry said. However, the UK Department of Defense claims that there was no such incident. An Air Force correspondent on board the ship reports that there was no firing in the immediate vicinity of the Defender and that it did not change its course.

“At times, the Royal Navy destroyer was accompanied by more than 20 Russian aircraft, and there were warnings from the ships of the Russian coast guard. We also heard shots, but I think they were outside the range of destruction..."

At the same time, the RF Ministry of Defense said in a statement: “The dangerous actions of the British Navy destroyer are regarded by the Russian Defense Ministry as a gross violation of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Russian military department called on the British side to conduct a thorough investigation of the actions of the crew of the destroyer "Defender" to prevent similar incidents in the future".

Meanwhile, AIS marine tracking data show that the British destroyer HMS Defender sailed about 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) off the Crimean coast, while Russia's declared territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles offshore.

Images from the Sentinel-2 satellite confirm that the HMS Defender passed about 20 km (less than 12 nautical miles) off the Crimean coast. Thus, Britain has shown that it does not recognize Russia's territorial waters off the coast of Crimea.

Press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry Zakharova responded to this scandal in her blog:

News # 1: The British Department of Defense has described reports of warning shots at its ship entering Crimea's territorial waters as "Russian disinformation".

News # 2: A BBC journalist aboard a British vessel confirmed that the ship deliberately entered Russian territorial waters. He also noted that "about 20" Russian planes flew over the ship and that he heard warning shots".

News item 3: The British Embassy said that “no shots were fired at the destroyer Defender. The ship of the Royal Navy made a peaceful passage through the territorial waters of Ukraine in accordance with international law. The description of these events by the Russian side is inaccurate".

Who is lying: the British Department of Defense, the British journalist of the BBC TV channel, or the British Embassy in Moscow?

There is an answer. This time - the British Department of Defense and the British Embassy. Well, not all the same British secret services to substitute "BBC".

London has lost its manners. I would like to advise the British partners: next time you want to "peacefully enter", knock..."

But the journalist Vasily Alenin is perplexed:

“Why did you have to react to a lone destroyer? Fly over it, approach? I walked and walked from Odessa to Georgia.

But there was a loud demonstration.

Why is it needed?

Only in order to maintain the military agenda inside the country, to show the citizens that the "West" has aggressive plans. There is no other explanation.

But this only speaks of the lack of a positive agenda for the Russian authorities regarding the problem of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine. There is no idea, will, desire.

Although it would be correct to discuss the issue while you still have strength. Don't hold on to a structure that has no perspective.

The current Russian leadership does not know how - it will "reach the point", to the point when the very last Patrushev will understand that it is impossible to live like this anymore, something needs to be changed. But it will be too late.

In the meantime, you can still fly by air and report on the manifested power. Life seems wonderful. "Judging by the reports"..."