Russian jet buzzes US warship in the Black Sea

A U.S. Navy warship operating in the Black Sea was buzzed by a Russian fighter jet Sunday, according to officials.

Donald Cook had been steaming in the Black Sea for just more than a week on Sunday when a Russian Su-24 jet performed a low pass near the ship, getting as close as 100 yards away from the port beam, according to Cmdr. Kyle Raines, a spokesman for U.S. 6th Fleet.

The Navy posted footage of the close call to Twitter.

The entire interaction lasted about 10 minutes, Raines said in a statement.

“The unnecessary proximity of the Russian Su-24′s actions were inconsistent with good airmanship and international norms and standards,” he said. “The U.S. 6th Fleet is committed to maintaining freedom of movement within international waters for all nations in the Black Sea.”

Russia’s state-run news agency Tass quoted a Russian defense organization as saying it had been tracking Donald Cook since it entered the Black Sea on Jan. 23.

Donald Cook is operating concurrently with fellow guided-missile destroyer Porter and the oiler Laramie in the Black Sea.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Donald Cook sails alongside Georgian coast guard ships in the Black Sea in January 2019. (MC2 Ford Williams/Navy)

About Geoff Ziezulewicz

Geoff is a senior staff reporter for Military Times, focusing on the Navy. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was most recently a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at geoffz@militarytimes.com.

More In Flashpoints

North Korea slams US-South Korea-Japan military cooperation

Sunday’s statement comes as North Korea’s neighbors say the country is ready for its first nuclear test in five years

Senior Airman Christian Jackson, a cryptologic language analyst with the 97th Intelligence Squadron, sits at a computer simulating his in-flight duties at Lincoln Airport, Neb., May 11, 2021. Airmen from different Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., squadrons posed for photos on a RC-135V/W Rivet Joint. (Staff Sgt. Jessica Montano/Air Force)

None of the US Air Force’s linguists spoke Ukrainian. Then Russia invaded.

Air Force linguists scrambled to keep up through the Afghanistan withdrawal and, now, the war in Ukraine.

Multiple errors led to fuel leak in Pearl Harbor water, Navy says

Some 6,000 people, including Navy, Army and Air Force families, suffered nausea, headaches, rashes and other symptoms.

Russian forces leave Snake Island, keep up eastern assault

Russia said it withdrew its forces from the island as a “goodwill gesture.” Ukraine said the Russians fled following a barrage of artillery and missiles.

US to boost military presence in Europe for Russia threat

Biden announced the permanent basing of a U.S. military garrison in Poland. He also said the U.S. is sending two additional F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the U.K. and more air defense and other capabilities to Germany and Italy.

In Other News

GI Bill fix would ease financial reporting rules for colleges

Some schools have reported significant problems in navigating recent changes to veterans education benefits.

US Navy, Air Force running ‘capstone test’ of new high-power microwave missile

The High-Powered Joint Electromagnetic Non-Kinetic Strike Weapon (HiJENKS) uses microwave technology to disable an adversary’s electronic systems.

‘It’s scary as hell’ — PFAS exposure a ‘widespread’ problem for troops, families nationwide

Some of the highest concentrations of PFAS chemicals in the country have been found at and around military bases.

Navy-Marine war game puts their climate action strategy to the test

The scenario involved a Navy amphibious ready group and an embarked Marine expeditionary group poised to conduct an exercise with a partner nation amid storms and a typhoon.

Oops! Navy helo ‘rigging failure’ sends five missiles into the Pacific

Efforts to recover the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles have begun.

How this E-8 bought a McLaren without financing at 27 percent

Patience is the key to owning the car of your dreams without breaking the bank.

Should WWII’s last Medal of Honor recipient get a state funeral?

Hershel “Woody” Williams, awarded the nation's highest combat honor in 1945, passed away Wednesday.

Four former Navy officers convicted in ‘Fat Leonard’ bribery trial

The jury deadlocked and reached no verdict on charges against a fifth defendant, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Army veteran held in Ukraine speaks to mom by phone

Relatives say Lois “Bunny” Drueke spoke to her son Alexander Drueke, one of two Alabama veterans captured earlier this month in Ukraine, via telephone.

Wives of fighter pilots on what ‘Top Gun’ gets right — and wrong

Four wives of fighter pilots dish the details you don’t see in the Hollywood films on this episode of The Spouse Angle.