The US Coast Guard announced today that it tracked a group of Russian warships that have entered US waters off Alaska in order to avoid sea ice, which is permitted by international rules and customs, the Associated Press reported, BTA reported.
The crew of a US Coast Guard cutter watched the Russian warships cross the sea border, after which they entered 30 miles (48 km) into the US exclusive economic zone. This occurred about 60 miles (100 km) northwest of Point Hope.
The Russian vessels included two submarines, a frigate and a tugboat, the US Coast Guard said in a statement.
Rear Admiral Megan Dean said the Coast Guard actively patrols the maritime borders of the Bering Sea, the Bering Strait and the Chukchi Sea to “protect U.S. sovereign interests, U.S. fish stocks, and assist in maritime compliance”.