Russia can be ready to strike overseas naval vessels that illegally enter its territorial waters, a senior Russian army official mentioned on Monday.
Such a choice would solely be made on the "highest stage," Stanislav Gadzhimagomedov, deputy head of the primary operational division of the overall employees, advised a roundtable of Russia's Federation Council, in response to native media shops.
He made the remarks when answering a query a couple of U.S. submarine that Moscow claimed entered Russian territorial waters on February 12.
"We're at all times prepared. However the truth is that such choices are made solely on the highest stage," he mentioned.
Earlier, Russia's Ministry of Protection mentioned that a Virginia-class submarine of the U.S. Navy had breached its territorial waters and entered the Kuril Islands at 10.40 a.m. native time on Saturday. The ministry mentioned the transfer marked a "main violation of worldwide regulation."
The Russian Navy conducts workout routines within the Kuril space.
The Russian ministry of protection mentioned in a press release that a Russian navy destroyer used "acceptable means" in opposition to the U.S. vessel after it refused an order to floor on Saturday. The vessel then fled at "most pace," in response to the assertion.
The Navy denied the allegations. Captain Kyle Raines, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command spokesman, mentioned U.S. submarines work completely in worldwide waters, and that there's "no fact to the Russian claims of our operations of their territorial waters."
"I can't touch upon the exact location of our submarines however we do fly, sail, and function safely in worldwide waters," Raines advised Russian state-run information company TASS on Sunday.
Gadzhimagomedov advised the roundtable on Monday that Russia is at present in a position to successfully counter the U.S. Navy within the Black and Baltic Seas, however that it would not but have sufficient ships and plane within the Far East.
He mentioned: "Should you take it purely by way of the fleet, the prevalence of Individuals by way of the variety of ships and response capabilities is far larger than ours."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov individually mentioned on Monday that the Russian army strictly observes protocol in taking motion in opposition to overseas ships and submarines which will enter Russia's territorial waters.
"In fact, our army, who're accountable for the safety of our borders, for the safety of our nation, strictly adhere to those protocols," Peskov mentioned.
It comes amid rising tensions between Russia and the U.S. as fears develop of a potential Moscow-led invasion of Ukraine. Russia has denied any plans to invade Ukraine, though Western officers estimate Russia has amassed about 100,000 troops close to the Ukrainian border.
In a roughly hour-long name on Sunday, President Joe Biden advised Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the U.S. would reply "swiftly and decisively" to any additional Russian aggression in opposition to Ukraine.
"The 2 leaders agreed on the significance of continuous to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia's army build-up on Ukraine's borders," a White Home readout of the decision mentioned.
Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon for remark.
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