Russia to conduct large-scale military exercises in Crimea
Russia plans to perform large military exercises in the annezed Crimea, stated the head of the Southern Military District’s press service of the Russian Federation, Vadim Astafyev.
"More than 1,000 servicemen (4th Air Force and Air Defense Forces Army) will take part in the joint exercises. It will involve more than 50 long-range, operational-tactical, attack aircraft, including the A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft, supersonic the Tu-22M3 bomber, as well as about 10 Black Sea Fleet ships, said Astafyev.
During the first stage, the operational-tactical aviation squadron will relocate from the Rostov region to the annexed Crimea, where for a week they will conduct exercises with the air defense division and the Black Sea Fleet ships.
Specifically, squadrons of Su-30SM fighters and Su-34 bombers will use missiles and bombs against provisional targets in the Opuk and Chauda areas.
"The pilots will have to defeat the targets installed in the sea as well as the real cruise missiles launchers of the Black Sea Fleet’s coastal missile systems. In addition, the aircrew of the air unit will complete a complex element of refueling in the air and will conduct an air battle with the enemy’s aviation group consisting of up to 30 aircraft, “states the report.
Earlier reports said that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet ships and the Southern Military District’s aviation of the Russian Ministry of Defense have worked on "the conventional enemy’s ships and aircraft destruction” during joint exercises in the Black Sea.
After the annexation of the Crimea in 2014, Russia conducts regular military exercises on the peninsula. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine called the Russian military actions in the Crimea illegal.