Russia shrugs off 'distressed reaction' of U.S. after planes buzz navy destroyer

Russian attack planes buzzed a U.S. navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea multiple times this week, coming as close as an estimated 10 metres from the ship and twice passing below the ship's navigation bridge, according to U.S. officials.

The Russian Su-24 planes appeared unarmed but on Tuesday flew what the commander of the USS Donald Cook deemed to be a simulated attack profile.

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The Cook's commander judged the actions as "unsafe and unprofessional," but the ship took no action beyond trying unsuccessfully to communicate with the aircraft by radio, according to a statement by U.S. European Command.

The U.S. European Command which oversees U.S. military operations in that area said the Cook was conducting deck landing drills with an allied military helicopter when two Su-24s also made numerous close-range and low-altitude passes Monday afternoon. One pass occurred while the helicopter was refuelling on deck.

"As a safety precaution, flight operations were suspended until the Su-24s departed the area," it said.

European Command did not identify the ally involved but other officials said the helicopter was Polish.

The U.S. European Command statement said officials are using diplomatic channels to address the matter.

"It may have been in international waters and therefore may not be any violation of international law, but it is still irresponsible behavior," said NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, speaking on the sidelines of a security conference in Kyiv.

"It illustrates that Russia is contributing to tensions," he added.

On Thursday, Russia's defence ministry rejected the U.S. complaints, with a spokesman saying he was baffled by what he described as the "distressed reaction of our American counterparts."

Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday that the pilots of Russian Su-24 jets saw the ship and turned back "while using all measures of precaution."

The actions come at a time of tension between Washington and Moscow over Russia's annexation of Crimea, its military intervention in eastern Ukraine and fears among former Soviet states in eastern Europe that Russian aggression could threaten their independence.