The USS Ross this week arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, for a scheduled port visit, a day after being targeted by Russian aircraft -- and weeks after being trailed by a Russian warship -- according to reports.

The Navy announced Thursday the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross made a port visit in Odessa on Christmas Eve, part of its mission in the Black Sea. The Ross is the first U.S. vessel to stop in Odessa since the USS Porter made a port call there in October.

Ahead of arriving in Odessa, two Russian Su-24 bombers, with Su-27 fighter jets, simulated a missile attack on the Ross while it transited the Black Sea on Dec. 23, according to a Ukraine military statement.

"The aircraft have held the maneuver typical of an aerial strike by cruise missiles and returned to the airfield," the statement said.

Earlier this month, the Ross entered the Black Sea while being tailed by the Russian corvette Vyshny Volochyok, a Buyan-M-class missile ship, as it steamed toward port in Constanta, Romania.

"Team Ross has been looking forward to visiting Odessa for a long time," Cmdr. Scott Jones, executive officer of the USS Ross, said in a statement. "Especially during the holiday season, we can't wait to explore this beautiful city and meet the wonderful people who make it great."

The USS Ross is currently homeported in Rota, Spain, and is scheduled to cycle out of Naval Station Rota at some point between 2020 and 2022.

Related Links
Naval Warfare in the 21st Century

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

China aircraft carrier sails through Taiwan Strait again
Taipei (AFP) Dec 26, 2019
A newly commissioned Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait for a second time Thursday, Taipei's defence ministry said, just weeks before the island goes to polls to elect a new president. The ministry said it was fully monitoring the Shandong, China's first domestically built carrier, and accompanying ships as they traversed the strait separating China from self-ruled Taiwan. Taiwan's presidential office said in a statement that China had an "international responsibility" t ... read more