MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. The US guided-missile destroyer Donald Cook began its transit of the Dardanelles Strait en route to the Black Sea, the press office of the US 6th Fleet reported on Tuesday.

"The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook began its north-bound transit of the Dardanelles Strait, en route to the Black Sea Feb. 19, 2019, to conduct maritime security operations and enhance regional maritime stability, combined readiness and naval capability with our NATO allies and partners in the region," the press office said.

The US 6th Fleet’s press office did not disclose, however, the area towards which the guided missile destroyer was sailing. At the same time, the press office said the warship had already performed certain missions in the Black Sea a month ago. It visited Batumi, Georgia, and conducted an exercise with two Georgian Coast Guard ships. On January 28, the destroyer left the Black Sea.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet’s guard ship Pytlivy tracked the US vessel’s movements at the time.