What do you get when you cross a Russian warplane with an American guided missile destroyer vessel? Well, that depends on who you ask.
Apparently Russian reports had blown the above ‘meeting’ out of proportion, forcing the U.S. Navy to take the rather unusual step of releasing the footage to prove nothing untoward had occurred. CNN reports:
Russian media claimed that the planes forced the warship to head away from Russian territorial waters. But the U.S. Navy said the Ross never changed course and proceeded on its mission, which was in international waters.
In a video released by U.S. Naval Forces Europe, one of the Russian planes is shown flying an estimated 500 meters (1,640 feet) off the side of the ship at an altitude of 600 feet.
The USS Ross was, at the time, 25 miles off the coast of Crimea in what is considered international waters. US government officials are currently rather antsy about exactly what is going on the area:
Defense Secretary Ash Carter warned about the danger of a summer offensive by pro-Russian separatists, who have seized Crimea from Ukraine.
“We are looking at Russian activities, at the activities of separatists. It’s a serious possibility and a serious danger.”
Russia and America duking it out? I guess time doesn’t heal all wounds.
[source:cnn]
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