"The forces and facilities of the Black Sea Fleet have begun to control the actions of the US Navy's flagship Mount Whitney, which entered the Black Sea on 4 November 2021", the Russian Defence Ministry said.
Earlier in the day, photos of the warship leaving Istanbul and heading to the Black Sea were posted online.
Russia has repeatedly warned NATO that the increasing activity of the bloc near its waters may result in unwanted incidents. Last Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the issue, saying that by sending military ships to the Black Sea, Washington does not add stability to the region, but is trying to push coastal countries toward confrontational policies.