US Destroyer Enters The Black Sea, Russian Military On Alert

United States guided-missile destroyer USS (DDG-71) Ross. (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg)

JAKARTA - The Russian military's Black Sea Fleet is on alert for the operation of the United States Navy (US) guided-missile destroyer USS (DDG-71) Ross which entered the Black Sea region, Saturday, June 26.

The Russian Federation's National Defense Management said it was monitoring the activities of the ship in the Black Sea.

"Black Sea Fleet forces are beginning to watch the actions of the US Navy destroyer Ross, which entered the Black Sea on June 26," the center said in a statement, citing TASS Sunday, June 27.

Earlier, the US Navy's Sixth Fleet announced that the US destroyer entered the Black Sea on Saturday, where it will take part in the multinational military exercise Sea Breeze 2021.

According to the US fleet, the USS (DDG-71) Ross will join 31 other ships during the naval exercise. The plan involves the unification of armed forces from America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

"The drills will perform a variety of military tactics at sea, land, and air, including combat operations on land, against ships and air defenses, and the establishment of weapons clearance skills," the US Sixth Fleet said in a statement.

On June 23, the Russian Embassy in Washington urged the United States and its allies not to conduct military operations in the Black Sea. The diplomatic mission warned that this maneuver increased the risk of an accidental incident, fueling militaristic sentiment in Kiev.

The press service of the US Embassy in Ukraine previously reported that at least 32 countries would take part in the exercise. It is planned to involve 5,000 soldiers, 32 ships, and 40 aircraft in the training.

Last week, conditions in the Black Sea had heated up last week, after the British destroyer HMS Defender was said to have entered Russian territory in the Black Sea region. Coast guard ships and Sukhoi Su-24M fighter aircraft were deployed to ensure the HMS Defender exits Russian waters.