Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachnyi completed patrolling of the Black Sea from the 14th to 21st of March, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense informed. The ship detected four military ships and two Mi-35 helicopters of Russian Black Sea Fleet, which made attempts to cross the naval frontier of Ukraine.
Regardless of the talks with the ships’ commanders and warnings, Russian ships continued their movement. As a result, the Ukrainian ship was put on combat alert. The frigate initiated the approach to intruding ships to force them to leave the Ukrainian waters. Due to decisive and coordinated actions of the frigate, Russian ships retreated. Ship armament was not used, the Ministry said.
“Hetman Sahaydachnyi crew proved their capability to accomplish tasks assigned,” Capt. 1st Rank Roman Pyatnytsky, Commander of Hetman Sahaydachnyi.
[mappress] Press Release, March 21, 2014; Image: Ukrainian Navy