Russian fighters harassed the Dutch frigate HNLMS Eversten in the Black Sea for hours last week, the Dutch defense ministry said Tuesday. During the incident, which lasted roughly five hours last Thursday, Russian fighters armed with air-to-surface missiles flew low and close the warship, conducting mock attacks on the Royal Netherlands Navy vessel.
The Dutch warship also experienced jamming that disrupted some of its onboard electronic systems, the defense ministry said.
The ship’s commanding officer said in a statement that the Eversten was sailing in international waters, arguing that there was no reason for the observed Russian actions, which he called “irresponsible and unsafe.”
