Russia Stages Show of Force near Ukraine with Launch of Crimean Exercises - Tasnim News Agency

(Tasnim) – Russia launched major military exercises in Crimea on Thursday under the personal supervision of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as part of a show of force on Ukraine’s southern border that has prompted intense concern in Kiev and the West.

The Russian defense ministry said Shoigu flew by helicopter over the areas where troops and military equipment are deployed, and checked the readiness of the naval and ground forces, Reuters reported.

Interfax news agency said the exercises would involve more than 10,000 soldiers and more than 40 warships.

In Moscow, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin was aware of an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet to discuss the crisis.

“If the president considers it necessary, he will reply himself. I have nothing to say on that now,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The concentration of forces in Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, is part of a much bigger deployment of Russian troops.

The EU’s top diplomat said on Monday that Russia has massed some 100,000 troops near the border.

Earlier on Thursday, Ukraine’s foreign minister urged Western allies to show they were prepared to punish Moscow with new sanctions, including kicking Russia out of the global SWIFT bank payments system, to deter the Kremlin from resorting to more military force.

---

 

The Russian military is conducting exercises in Crimea using warships from the Black Sea Fleet as well as several Air Force units at the Opuk training ground.

 More than 10,000 military personnel and 1.2 thousand units of military equipment, including more than 40 warships and 20 support vessels, are involved in the exercises. The troops will practice targeted missile strikes as well as deflections.

 The training will also see the military focus on the use of unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles. The Defense Ministry stressed that the exercises are held as part of a country-wide military check after the winter training period.

 Once the drills are over, the troops will return to their station locations by May 1.