WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Two Russian Su-24 bombers jets flew over the US Navy destroyer Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea in manner that resembled an attack and ignored safety advisories, US European Command said in a press release on Wednesday.
USS Donald Cook operating in the Baltic Sea experienced several close interactions by Russian aircraft on April 11 and 12, according to EUCOM.
"We condemn this kind of behavior. It is reckless. It is provocative. It is dangerous. And under the rules of engagement that could have been a shoot-down," the US State State Jojn Kerry said in an interview with CNN Espanol and the Miami Herald.
"The Secretary [Kerry] was alarmed at seeing the imagery and the reports of these [Russian] overflights, these passes on the USS Donald Cook," Kirby stated. "He found it unprofessional, needlessly provocative and indeed dangerous. He will raise it directly with Foreign Minister Lavrov."
While sailing through the Baltic on Tuesday, the USS Donald Cook reported that Russian aircraft performed repeated flybys within 30 feet of the destroyer. Several of these passes were low enough to "create a wake in the sea waters surrounding the ship," stated officials, also describing the maneuvers as "unsafe and unprofessional," according to Defense News.
