Russia summons British envoy Deborah Bronnert over 'terrorist attacks' on Black Sea fleet

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry called British Ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert to express disapproval over United Kingdom's participation in a "terrorist attack" in Crimean port of Sevastopol against Black Sea Fleet.

Amid ongoing brutal war in Eastern Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation said in a statement said, "In connection with Defence Ministry’s reports about United Kingdom’s involvement in October 29 terrorist attack against Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, British Ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert was summoned to Russian Foreign Ministry on vember 3.” 

According to Russian MoFA, Ukrainian Navy conducted dives and a target detonation exercise in Black Sea and on shore near cities of Odessa, Nikolayev, as well as Ochakov with help of British experts. 

According to Guardian report, without offering any evidence, Russia has repeatedly accused UK of being behind October 29, Saturday's attack in which a swarm of drones targeted Russia's Black Sea navy. 

Furrmore, Russian Foreign Ministry said that Ambassador received a vehement complaint over British military specialists' active involvement in training and supplying units of Ukrainian special operations forces, especially with intention of carrying out acts of sabot at sea. It added, “Concrete facts of that kind of activities by London were provided.” 

demarche furr highlighted how such aggressive behaviour by British raises  possibility of an escalation and might have unforeseen and catastrophic results. 

Russian Foreign Ministry on UK's involvement in Russia-Ukraine war

Ministry also stressed that it was emphasised that this aggressive provocation was unacceptable, and it was demanded that y stop right w. If se aggressive measures, which have direct implications for war, continue, only British side will bear responsibility for ir negative effects and escalating tensions in ir bilateral relations, statement added. 

According to ministry, “An agreement was reached in September 2020 between London and Kyiv to expand British instructors’ training programme for Ukrainian military divers.” Furr, it stated that Naval Training Initiative for Ukrainian Navy, which includes combat swimmer training programs, was put into action by parties in late 2020. 

Ministry also underlined that Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine initiative significantly strengns naval cooperation between United Kingdom and Ukraine. This work is done at a different Ataman Golovaty Special Operations Center "South" of Ukrainian Special Operations Forces in city of Ochakov, Nikolayev region, and it contains training underwater special operations personnel for carrying out operations in Black Sea and Azov Sea.

Special operations divers are being trained in a military diving school in Odessa, which is a part of 198th training facility for Ukrainian Navy, Military Unit A3163, Nikolayev. This training includes deep-sea subversive techniques, among or things. 

minesweeper personnel that was sent to Ukraine were taught by British in months of August and September, ministry reported. 

Meanwhile, Moscow withdrew from a grain agreement involving Black Sea as a result of drone strike. Russia's Defense Ministry unexpectedly said on Wednesday that it will rejoin agreement, breaking a standoff that threatened to spark a worldwide food crisis. 

(Im: AP)