The US guided-missile destroyer Gravely breached international safety rules by coming withing dangerous proximity of the Yaroslav Mudry in the eastern Mediterranean, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the statement, the warship's captain and crew violated the international Regulations for Preventing Collisions at sea (COLREGS) which govern the conduct of two or more vessels when they meet at sea in order to prevent dangerous situations.

"The US sailors, in particular, neglected Rule 13, which stipulates that an overtaking vessel must keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken," the Defense Ministry said. It added that the USS Gravely had also violated Rule 15, which says that a vessel that has another vessel on the starboard side must yield and avoid crossing ahead of her.