Russia says jets observed ‘all safety measures’ in US warship flyby

Moscow (AFP) – The Russian defence ministry on Thursday said its aircraft observed all required safety measures when flying over a US warship in international waters of the Baltic Sea, dismissing criticism of unsafe conduct.

Su-24 planes were conducting test flights and “having observed the ship, turned away in observance of all safety measures,” the defence ministry said, adding that the USS Donald Cook was in “operational proximity of the Russian navy’s Baltic fleet base.”