Russian Navy tracking US destroyer ship in Black Sea

Russia's Black Sea Fleet is tracking the United States' guided-missile destroyer, USS Porter that entered the Black Sea on Saturday, the Russian National Defense Management Center said in a statement.

"The Black Sea Fleet has begun to track the movement of the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter that entered the Black Sea on October 30," the statement reads.

The US Sixth Fleet said earlier that "USS Porter began its northbound transit to the Black Sea to operate with our NATO allies and partners in the region." The fleet added that its flagship USS Mount Whitney was also headed to the Black Sea.

The US Navy’s 6th Fleet announced that it dispatched its flagship vessel, Mount Whitney, into the waters of the Black Sea for joint drills with NATO forces, according to a statement from the US fleet’s press office.

"US Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO - STRIKFORNATO [Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO] staff embarked SIXTHFLT [6th Fleet] command and control ship USS Mount Whitney LCC 20, Oct. 29, 2021," the statement reads.

"During the underway, Mount Whitney and the embarked staffs will operate alongside NATO allies and partners in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, working together to ensure security and stability in the region," according to the statement.

"Operating and exercising together demonstrates NATO’s commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters for all nations," the statement added.