Destroyer Donald Cook sails into Black Sea as Russia tensions rise

Military Times: The U.S. destroyer Donald Cook re-entered the Black Sea Tuesday to conduct exercises with Ukraine and other allies, the Navy announced Tuesday.

The ship’s arrival into the Black Sea, its second visit this year, comes amid escalating tensions and violence between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian navy has been drilling in anticipation of an at-sea attack by Russia, particularly near the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, where Russia seized and imprisoned 24 sailors on three Ukrainian vessels late last year.

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