Russia summons UK ambassador over attack on Black Sea Fleet
Fire after explosions in Sevastopol, October 29 (Photo:t.me/mysiagin)
The Russian Foreign Ministry has lodged a note of “strong protest” with the UK Ambassador to Moscow, Deborah Bronnert, in connection with London’s alleged involvement in an attack on Russianmilitary naval vessels in the occupied port of Sevastopol, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry on Nov. 3.
Russia states that it has expressed this protest “because of the active participation of British military specialists in the training and supply of Ukrainian troops, in particular for the purpose of sabotage operations at sea.”
"In case of continuation of such acts of aggression that threaten direct involvement in the conflict, the entire responsibility for their disastrous consequences and the growth of tension between our countries will lie entirely on the British side," the Russian ministry added.
At the same time, Moscow did not provide concrete evidence to confirm its statements. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, they allegedly have information that the British Navy "handed over a certain number" of unmanned vehicles to the Ukrainian side.
On Oct. 29, Russian occupation authorities reported a drone attack on ships moored in Sevastopol Bay.
The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine and the United Kingdom of being behind the attack. The Russians claimed that they had allegedly "destroyed all air targets." They maintained that "the attack by the Ukrainian military" took place "under the guidance of British specialists who are in Ochakiv (a town in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv Oblast, about 200 kilometers to the north-west of Sevastopol)."
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that, in addition to the warship the Ivan Golubets, "minor damage" was caused to a protective barrier in the south bay.
Ukraine’s Operational Command South said that the explosions in Sevastopol could have been caused by unsuccessful launches of air defense missiles.
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