Russia threatens it may fire to hit intruding warships if warnings don’t work

Russia will be ready to fire to hit intruding warships, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warns in the wake of a Black Sea incident in which a British destroyer sailed near Crimea in an area that Russia claims as its territorial waters.

Ryabkov says that “the inviolability of the Russian borders is an absolute imperative,” adding that it will be protected “by all means, diplomatic, political and military if needed.”

Asked what Russia would do to prevent such intrusions in the future, Ryabkov tells reporters it will stand ready to fire on targets if warnings don’t work.

“We may appeal to reason and demand to respect international law,” Ryabkov says in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. “If it doesn’t help, we may drop bombs and not just in the path but right on target if colleagues don’t get it otherwise.”