On 14 February 2017, the US Navy reported an incident in the Black Sea which appears to have been challenged by the Russian Navy.

According to the [US Navy] report, four armed Russian airplanes (Su-24 and Ilyushin Il-38) appear to have drawn dangerously close to the destroyer, USS Porter (DDG-78), and yet, in violation of the laws on military navigation, refused radio contact.

The seriousness of this incident, which appeared to take place in international waters, would appear to demonstrate aggression on the part of Russia and the permanent threat that it would pose to international peace.
Fact-check:
– there is no evidence that this incident took place and it has been denied by a spokesmen for the Russian armed forces.
- the incident would have taken place on 10 February, that is 4 days before the US report.

According to John Helmer, the former Australian advisor to Jimmy Carter, who now works as a journalist in Moscow, each element of this tale would have been invented by the US military chief. The motive: to put pressure on Donald Trump’s team.

The US Navy falls under the command of Admiral John Richardson.

Translation
Anoosha Boralessa