After incident between UK and Russia, George Eustice denies reports HMS Defender ‘harrassed’
UK warships would again be prepared to pass through disputed waters around Crimea, a cabinet minister has said, after Wednesday’s unexpected diplomatic and military clash with Russia in the Black Sea.
George Eustice, the environment secretary, reiterated the denial from the Ministry of Defence that no warning shots had been fired at HMS Defender by Russian vessels. Instead a “gunnery exercise” was taking place nearby, which is “not uncommon for Russians to do” in that area, he said.
Asked on Sky News if the Royal Navy would enter the waters again, he said “of course, yes”, adding: “We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.”
Eustice disputed reports from a BBC journalist on board the destroyer that the Russian military had “harassed” the ship, closely following HMS Defender as it passed near Crimea with firing heard in the distance. “This was something quite different,” Eustice said.
He added: “Under international law you can take the closest, fastest route from one point to another. HMS Defender was passing through Ukrainian waters, I think on the way to Georgia, and that was the logical route for it to take.
“This is a very normal thing, it’s quite common actually … so I think it’s important people don’t get carried away.”
