Italian, French Reconnaissance Ships Might Enter Black Sea on June 15-16

Local Editor

A source with the Russian Navy said the reconnaissance ships of Italy and France will enter the Black Sea on June 15 and 16 on Wednesday, with a source in the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet saying that the ships will replace both a US missile guided cruiser and French warship which currently stay in the region.

The Italian reconnaissance ship is expected in the Black Sea on June 15, and the French warship will pass the straits on June 16, a source with the Russian Navy said.

The US missile guided cruiser should return to the Mediterranean on June 12, and the French warship will leave the Black Sea on June 17, a source in the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet told TASS news agency on Wednesday.

The naval official said, "NATO shifts the emphasis on gathering intelligence, replacing two warships in the Black Sea with two reconnaissance vessels."

This does not raise our concerns in the least," the Russian naval official said. "Such actions by NATO ships enable Russia to test various monitoring systems of the surface picture, among other things," he added.

The Italian and French reconnaissance ships have been tasked with missions in the northern part of the Black Sea, in close proximity to Crimea.

The French warship can intercept satellite-based communication, e-mail traffic and telephone conversations. The Italian ship carries 27 electronic and acoustic intelligence systems, as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle.

The Italian ship last entered the Black Sea in May.

Moreover, the US missile guided cruiser has been in the Black Sea since May 23 and France's warship since May 28.

In line with the international Montreux Convention governing movements at sea, warships from states not bordering the Black Sea cannot stay in its waters longer than 21 days.

Sources: News Agencies, Edited by website team