Russia denies claims it ‘buzzed’ Canadian frigate

Ottawa, Russia is denying allegations that its military aircraft “buzzed” a Canadian frigate in the Black Sea, saying it was just the planes’ flight path that took them close to HMCS Toronto.
Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov confirmed to the Itar-Tass news agency that an SU-24 fighter jet and a transport plane flew near the Canadian frigate on Sunday. However, Konashenkov denied Defence Minister Rob Nicholson’s charge that the action was “unnecessarily provocative.”
“The planes’ flight path passed through the area where the Canadian naval ship Toronto was, but without making an approach on the foreign military vessel,” Konashenkov was quoted as saying.

On Monday, CTV’s Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported that two Russian fighter jets and a Russian surveillance aircraft “buzzed” the Canadian frigate.
One of the fighter jets came within 300 metres of the ship. HMCS Toronto locked its radar weapons system on the Russian aircraft, but took no further action because the planes were unarmed, sources said.
Although the move did not pose a threat to HMCS Toronto or its crew, Russia’s actions were “unnecessarily provocative and risk escalating tensions even further,” Nicholson’s office said in a statement.
HMCS Toronto is currently operating in the Black Sea along with other NATO warships. At the time of the incident, the ship was en route to Operation Sea Breeze, a three-day, U.S.-led exercise with the Ukrainian navy.
The Black Sea borders Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Romania, along with other countries.
One naval expert says it’s not surprising that Russia sent warplanes since it considers the Black Sea its backyard.
“There is always an opportunity for something stupid to happen and somebody get in too close or somebody do something provocative that would actually escalate the incident and get quite dangerous,” Hugh Williamson told CTV News.