Russia on Thursday said said they did not understand why two Russian fighter jets flying close to an American Navy destroyer would prompt "painful reaction from our American colleagues," NBC News reported.
The Su-24 fighter jets were filmed "buzzing" around the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea, about 70 miles from Russia's Kaliningrad province, on Monday and Tuesday.
A U.S. official said the maneuvers were "unsafe" and "unprofessional" — and that the jets were so low they left a "wake in the water." He said a Russian KA-27 helicopter also made passes above the destroyer and was believed to be photographing the ship.
Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov hit back Thursday, saying that "upon visual contact, the Russian pilots have executed a turnaway from the ship, compliant to all safety regulations."
