US Destroyer Committed ‘Gross Violation’ in Encounter With Russian Ship

A US destroyer violated international and bilateral agreements by approaching a Russian ship dangerously close this month, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

The russian ship was following its course and didn't violate any international law standards:

"US destroyer Gravely made a close encounter with a Russian warship in the eastern Mediterranean on June 17 at a distance of 60-70 meters [197-229 feet] on the port side and crossed the Yaroslav Mudry’s course along the bow at a dangerous distance of 180 meters [590 feet]," the ministry said.

It brought to the Pentagon's attention the "gross violation by the Gravely destroyer's commander and crew" of International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and a similar Russian-US intergovernmental agreement.

The United States Navy has deployed an additional four aircraft carriers on combat duty. As a result, the number of simultaneously deployed aircraft carriers has reached six for the first time since 2012.

On June 1, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was sent from the US east coast to support the USS Harry Truman in the Mediterranean. On June 4, the USS Ronald Raegan was reportedly deployed from a naval base in Japan to the South China Sea. Two more flattops, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS George Washington, left their bases for training maneuvers.  

On June 6, US Navy destroyer Porter began its 21-day routine patrol of the Black Sea in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The deployment drew criticism from Moscow for destabilizing the region.