MOSCOW, July 1. /TASS/. The Russian Black Sea Fleet is keeping a close watch on the Italian Navy’s guided missile frigate Virginio Fasan that has entered the Black Sea, Russia’s National Defense Control Center reported on Thursday.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s forces and capabilities have started to track the Italian Navy’s guided missile frigate Virginio Fasan that entered the Black Sea on July 1," the National Defense Control Center said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on June 23 that the Black Sea Fleet jointly with the border guards of the Federal Security Service (FSB) halted a violation of the state border by the UK Navy’s guided missile destroyer Defender off Crimea’s Fiolent Cape in the Black Sea.

The British warship ventured three kilometers into the Russian territorial waters. A Russian guard ship fired warning shots while a Su-24M bomber dropped bombs in the UK warship’s path to chase it out of Crimean waters.

The Russian Defense Ministry slammed the UK destroyer’s operations as a gross violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and urged the British side to investigate the warship crew’s actions. The following day, Russian Su-30 fighters and Su-24 bombers were scrambled to prevent the Dutch frigate Evertsen from violating the Russian border in the Black Sea.

Currently, the Sea Breeze 2021 international military drills are running in the Black Sea with the participation of Ukraine and NATO member states. The largest maneuvers in more than 20 years will last until July 10. According to the data of the US side, the drills involve 32 countries, about 5,000 personnel, 32 warships, 40 aircraft and 18 land-and sea-based special operations groups.