Ukraine prepares to hold military exercises near Crimea
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has planned four exercises with live firing from anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-aircraft missile systems in 2019.
The first firing of anti-aircraft missile systems will take place as early as February at the Yagorlyk testing ground in the Kherson region near the annexed Crimea, reports the press service of the Ministry.
Shooting exercises will involve anti-aircraft missile systems Buk-M1, ZRS S-125, S-300P / PO / V1. The drills will be as similar to combat as possible.
“Priority attention will be traditionally given to combat shooting. We are planning to conduct even more extensive exercises than last year. We are talking about combat firing with the Buk-M1 and S-300P composite anti-aircraft missile regiments. Divisions "three hundred" will be suddenly called to the area of combat training tasks with standard weapons and military equipment. Of course, the situation will look more than realistic. And that is exactly the main task, “said the head of the anti-aircraft missile forces of Ukraine, Yuri Stavsky.
The Ukrainian Command stressed that this is due to threats from Russia, which continues the militarization of the Crimea and transfers more and more weapons to the airfields near the border with Ukraine.
In November 2018, the Ukrainian military already conducted large-scale exercises at the Yagorlyk training ground in the Kherson region near the annexed Crimea. These exercises were designed to practice the country's air defense system.
In early October 2018, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko inspected the military exercises of the Armed Forces on the coast of the Sea of Azov and announced their readiness for defense from Russia.
After the annexation of the Crimea in 2014, Russia holds regular military exercises on the peninsula. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine considers Russian military actions in the Crimea illegal.