Russian military aircraft buzz USS Porter

The Pentagon said Russian military aircraft came close to U.S. Navy destroyer USS Porter three times in the Black Sea on Feb. 10.

US Navy 120130-N-OP638-127 The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) is underway in the Atlantic Ocean
By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jesse L. Gonzalez [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Captain Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for U.S. European Command, said the first encounter involved two Su-24s, this was followed by another Su-24 and the final one was a Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft.

The Russian Ministry of Defense denied that such encounters took place.