Russian warship fires warning shots at Turkish fishing boat

Russia unveiled on 13 December 2015 that one of its warships had fired warning shots at a Turkish fishing boat in the Aegean Sea to avoid a collision. According to a statement for the defence ministry, a Turkish vessel approached to 600m before turning away in response to Russian small arms fire. The Turkish military attache in Moscow was summoned to the foreign ministry over the incident.

The captain of the Turkish boat said he was unaware that his vessel had been shot at.

Relations remain tense between the two countries since Turkey's shooting down of a Russian warplane.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkey-Russia jet downing: Moscow announces sanctions http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-russia-jet-downing-moscow-announces-sanctions/

EurActiv, 14.12.15: Russia warns Turkey following Aegean incident http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/russia-warns-turkey-following-aegean-incident-320395

The Guardian, 13.12.15: Russia warns Turkey after firing warning shots at vessel http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/13/russian-warship-fires-warning-shots-at-turkish-trawler-to-avoid-collision

The Wall Street Journal, 13.12.15: Russian Ship in Aegean Sea Fires Warning Shots at Turkish Vessel http://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-ship-in-aegean-sea-fires-warning-shots-at-turkish-vessel-1450013379

Deutsche Welle, 13.12.15: Russia claims near-miss with Turkey in Aegean Sea http://dw.com/p/1HMeA

The New York Times, 13.12.15: Run-In With Turkish Fishing Boat Angers Russian Military http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/14/world/europe/run-in-with-turkish-fishing-boat-angers-russian-military.html

RT, 13.12.15: Russian destroyer fires warning shots at Turkish fishing boat on collision course in Aegean https://www.rt.com/news/325785-russian-destroyer-turkish-trawler/

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