Ukraine started two days of missile tests near Crimea on Thursday – an action that has outraged Russia, which has put its air defence forces on high alert and released warships in the Black Sea.
The dispute marks a fresh escalation in tensions in between the one-time allies, whose relations deteriorated in 2014 after Russia seized Crimea and supported pro-Russian separatists battling in eastern Ukraine.
Volodymyr Kryzhanovsky, a Ukrainian military official, stated the exercises, which are happening in Ukraine’s southern Kherson area surrounding Crimea, had begun and that everything was going efficiently.
“The tests are being performed in as per the international law,” Kryzhanovsky informed the 112 TV channel.
The exercises, that will range from December 1-2, were taking place at least 30 kilometres (18.64 miles) from Crimean air space, he informed.
“For that reason it would be wrong to reproach Ukraine,” he told.
Moscow has reacted by putting its land-based as well as ship-borne air defence forces in Crimea on higher alert and a Russian military source has alleged Ukraine of trying to produce a anxious circumstance.
Warships from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet took the position off Crimea’s western coastline on Thursday to help strengthen the peninsula’s air defences, a Crimean military source informed the RIA news agency.
“The ships’ air defence units have been placed on a higher state of alert,” said the source. “Together with land-based air defence units on the peninsula, the ships have thrown up a practically impenetrable guard versus the opponent’s rockets.”
Ukraine states the aim of the tests is to bolster its defence capabilities.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters on Wednesday that was unsure whether President Vladimir Putin had ordered the defence ministry to plan a potential military response to the Ukrainian tests.
