UK denies Russian claim of shots fired against navy ship

The Ministry of Defense in London denies a Russian government claim that warning shots were fired against a British Royal Navy ship in the Black Sea.

“No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender. The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law,” the ministry says.

The Russian defense ministry had earlier said a border patrol ship fired warning shots and that an Su-24 aircraft dropped four bombs along the T45 destroyer’s path.

But the MoD says: “We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity.

“No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognize the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.”