Russian Federation summons Turkish military envoy citing ‘incident’ in Aegean, defense ministry says

The Russian destroyer class Smetlivy warship on the Black Sea in 2009.

Reportedly, a Russian battleship named “Smetlivy” fired warning shot at a Turkish fishing boat in Aegean Sea on Sunday.

According to the statement, the warship Smetlivy fired warning shots at an unnamed Turkish boat in the northern Aegean in order to avert a collision.

“Only by luck was tragedy avoided”, the ministry said.

The ministry said its guided missile destroyer Smetlivy was unable to make radio with the approaching Turkish seiner, a fishing boat equipped with nets, and it failed to respond to visual signals and flares.

Ankara’s military attache has been summoned over the incident, which unfolded 14 miles (22km) away from the Greek island of Lemnos.

Relations between Moscow and Ankara became strained after a Turkish jet shot down a Russian Su-24 aircraft over Syria in November, claiming it had violated Turkish airspace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called the downing of the plane a “stab in the back”, has since imposed economic sanctions on Turkey as a retaliatory measure.

“We do not favor tension, [this incident] needs to be overcome through dialogue”, he was quoted as saying by the local paper Daily Sabah.

Commenting on the incident, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavuloglu said the ministry would release a statement after holding talks with Turkish fishermen.