Images of the USS Donald Cook, a US missile destroyer recently deployed to the Black Sea, have appeared on social media shortly after the ship entered the region.
The photos show the destroyer as it passed through the Bosporus on 19 January and set sail northwards.
The movements of the US vessel are being closely followed by the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which has already sent one of its frigates, the Pytlivy, to shadow the foreign ship, while the Russian military also employs its electronic surveillance capabilities to keep tabs on the USS Donald Cook.
READ MORE: Russian Navy Monitoring US Destroyer in Black Sea – Control Center
The United States has steadily increased its presence in the Black Sea region over the past year, frequently deploying warships to the area on various missions.