The defence ministry on Monday denied
media reports that Russian ships were violating Italian waters
by sailing through the Sicilian Channel.
It said the formation was sailing through international waters
and NATO had been following the path of the naval group since it
set out in mid-January from the ports of Severomorsk (North
Fleet) and Baltijsk (Baltic Fleet).
NATO is continuing to monitor the flotilla, defence chiefs of
staff said.
"Neither NATO forces nor the Russian naval formation have shown
escalatary behaviour or intentions," they said.
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