US military responded to Russia's stance that during the incident, the Yaroslav Mudry frigate had displayed the signal restricted in maneuvers, but changed its speed to approach to the US ship after Gravely had changed both speed and course.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday that Washington attempts to cover up unprofessional actions of the US warship's crew when it shifts responsibility on Russian sailors.
"All statements about the Yaroslav Mudry’s attempts to hinder the Harry Truman carrier’s operation are unprofessional. The Russian frigate was at a distance of more than 5 nautical miles, and its actions could not in any way affect the maneuvers of the US aircraft carrier," the ministry stressed.
"A statement made by a Pentagon official on June 30 in response to concerns raised by the Russian Ministry of Defense on the dangerous activities of the US Navy destroyer is regrettable," the ministry said in a statement.
It argued that "it was the US destroyer Gravely that made a close encounter with the Russian Navy’s Yaroslav Mudry frigate sailing at its chosen course, not vice versa" in a June 17 incident in the eastern Mediterranean.
Following the incident, the US Department of Defense said it was in contact with Moscow over the issue.
