I was serving in USS Caron in 1992 in the Black Sea on a Freedom of Navigation Op with Yorktown when a Lumber Carrier (Lesnoavodsk) attempted a shouldering. Thew LC was too slow so we were shouldered by Mirka SKR. Took some damage near the port Harpoon launcher. That FON Op was going from a position in International Waters through Soviet claimed Territorial Waters on a direct course to another position in International Waters. I am guessing that the recent event was similar to ours (been on the retired list for over 20 years).
Like ‘they’ say...IT is a BIG ocean till two specks decide the one spot belongs to BOTH of them.
Always remember the guy looking out over the Pacific Ocean and saying:
“That is a lot of water”
“Yes, but that is just the top”