Sailor Alleges Assault Aboard Soviet Vessel

The Navy said Friday it is investigating allegations made by a sailor who said she was sexually assaulted aboard one of three Soviet ships on a goodwill visit in San Diego.

“It’s important to note that at the current time there is just an allegation of sexual assault,” a U.S. Navy spokesman said. “There is a joint review to determine if there is any basis for the allegations.”

Soviet and American naval officials were reviewing the service woman’s claims that she was attacked while aboard one of the Soviet vessels late Tuesday.

The Navy said no tours of the vessels were offered Tuesday evening and that officials did not know how the woman could have been on board at the time of the alleged attack.

“There were a limited number of tours for some specific groups on Tuesday--some civic leaders, some community leaders, children,” he said. “There was no public visiting in the evening.”

Speaking through an interpreter, Soviet navy spokesman Nicholay N. Bessubchenco said: “According to where it happened, when it happened, how it happened, it is impossible.”

The Navy said the woman could not identify the sailor who allegedly attacked her. The information gathered in the review would be forwarded to the Soviet military, the U.S. spokesman said.