Russia says warship prevented US destroyer entering its waters

Defence Ministry says Russian naval warship approached US destroyer USS Chafee to force it out of the area.

Russia’s Defence Ministry has said a Russian warship prevented a US Navy destroyer from what it described as an attempt to intrude into Russia’s territorial waters in the Sea of Japan.

The incident on Friday came as Russia and China conducted joint naval drills in the area, and follows other close encounters involving Russian and Western warships. It appears to reflect Moscow’s intention to raise the stakes in deterring the United States and its allies from sending their ships on missions near Russian waters, as relations between Russia and the West are at a post-Cold War low.

There was no immediate response from Washington.