MOSCOW, April 23. /ITAR-TASS/. The US has sent warship USS Taylor to the Black Sea, a source from the Russian Navy told ITAR-TASS. “The frigate USS Taylor has passed through the straits and entered the Black Sea yesterday evening,” the source said.

NATO’s navy presence in the Black Sea has increased to three units. Apart from warship Taylor, USS Donald Cook with Aegis missile defense system aboard and French intelligence ship Dupuy de Lome.

The US Navy has earlier said in a statement, “Taylor's mission is to reassure NATO allies of the US Navy's commitment to strengthen and improve interoperability while working toward mutual goals in the region.”

The source says USS Taylor enters the Black Sea for the second time in the last two months. The warship was posted in the Black Sea from February 5 to March 9, violating the Montreux Convention that established a 21-day deadline for the presence of non-Black Sea warships in the Black Sea.

USS Donald Cook and French Dupuy de Lome entered the Black Sea on April 10. Donald Cook is currently stationed in the western part of the sea. Dupuy de Lome is positioned in the central part of the Black Sea.