Russian Navy ships crossing Bosphorus protected - admiral
MOSCOW. May 16 (Interfax) - Russian warships crossing Bosphorus Strait have been provided with the necessary protection, Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, a former chief of the Russian Navy Main Staff, told Interfax on Tuesday.
He was commenting on Turkish media reports that security in the Bosphorus has been tightened to provide safety for the Russian warships.
"Our ships are self-sufficient. They have the necessary forces to defend themselves," Kravchenko said.
Turkish intelligence agencies obtained information that ISIL (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) terrorists were planning to attack Russian ships with long guns and portable missile systems, the Hurriyet newspaper said. Turkish police examined places where ships crossing Bosphorus come closest to the coastline.
Turkish police reportedly identified 146 potential sites from where terrorists could attack, and tightened security there. Russian ships crossing Bosphorus are now being protected by a police helicopter and two coast guard boats.
