Ukraine's missile test plans near Crimea heat up row with Russia

Moscow has protested against Ukraine's plans to carry out missile tests near Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 following the toppling of a pro-Russian Ukrainian president, raising the temperature in the dispute between the two countries.


Russian aviation agency Rosaviatsia said it has received a notification from Ukraine on missile tests in "Russia's sovereign air space" on 1 and 2 December in the region of Simferopol in Crimea.

Russia's Defence Ministry handed over a protest note to the Ukrainian defence attache, while Oleksander Turchinov, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council Secretary, dismissed Moscow's claims that Kiev had breached international agreements.

"Ukraine carries out the missile tests within the framework of all the international obligations and treaties. That's why we ask Russia not to hinder the tests by its hysterics and provocations," he said in a statement on his official website.
 [rte.ie]
26/11/16