Russia’s Putin oversees military drills near Crimea
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday oversaw sweeping air exercises intended to test the readiness of the country’s air defense systems near Crimea.
The drills featured warplanes armed with live missiles flying over the Black Sea, along the border between Crimea and mainland Ukraine. Putin, speaking from the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi during the exercises, said they have been planned since April and were intended to check the military’s readiness.
The maneuvers featured air defense systems, warships and tanks hitting targets at shooting ranges. The drills also simulated dealing with unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
Putin said the exercises marked the first time such a high number of warplanes were involved in drills in the region. He noted that the weapons employed during the exercises have demonstrated their range and ability to hit targets at a considerable distance.
The Russian leader pointed at the U.S. military deployments near the Russian borders, and U.S. and NATO drills in the Black Sea, as threatening Russia’s security. He added that the NATO activity near Crimea significantly increases risks and said that Russia will respond to them.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 following the ouster of Ukraine’s Moscow-friendly president. The move triggered Western sanctions, and the United States and the European Union have pledged to continue to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The West has also accused Russia of providing troops and weapons to support separatists in eastern Ukraine, a charge Moscow has denied.