Russian Destroyer Fires Warning Shots at Turkish Vessel in Aegean

Russia’s defense minister summoned counterparts from Turkey’s embassy in Moscow for discussions in the wake of the incident.

However Turkey says Russian Federation has been fuelling tensions as well.

“We have always been in favour of overcoming tensions through dialogue rather than conflict”. Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?a(left).

Russia’s diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don is escorted by a Turkish Navy Coast Guard boat as it sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, December 13, 2015.

Earlier Sunday, the Turkish military banned personnel from taking holidays in Russia, branding it a “precautionary measure after the Russian warplane, which violated (Turkey’s) borders, was downed in accordance with the rules of engagement”, Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news agency said.

A Russian pilot was killed as he parachuted to the ground following the attack last month, while a rescuer also died during an operation to save the other pilot.

When Turkey and its US-NATO backers staunchly defended the shoot down, Russian Federation responded by imposing economic sanctions against Ankara and deploying advanced anti-aircraft systems to northern Syria.

“For a Russian soldier to display a rocket launcher or something similar while passing on a Russian warship is a provocation”, Cavusoglu told reporters, according to Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper.

“Despite repeated attempts of the crew of the Smetlivy, the Turkish fishing boat did not establish radio contact with the Russian sailors and did not respond to specific semaphore signals and signal flares”, the statement said.

Moscow claims their boat only used small arms fire to ward off what was described as a Turkish fishing ship.

The Turkish vessel then changed direction without contacting the Russian crew, the statement added.

“A strict representation was made to the Turkish diplomat about possible serious consequences of official Ankara’s reckless actions against the Russian military contingent on an anti-terrorist mission in Syria”, the spokesman said.