Missile tests irk Russia

Missile tests irk Russia Warships deployed to Crimea Ukraine began two days of missile tests near Crimea on Thursday - a move that has angered Russia, who has put its air defence forces on high alert and deployed warships in the Black Sea. The disagreement between Russia and the Ukraine marks a fresh escalation in tensions between the one-time allies, whose relations collapsed in 2014 after Russia seized Crimea and backed pro-Russian separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Volodymyr Kryzhanovsky, a Ukrainian military official, said the exercises, which are taking place in Ukraine''s southern Kherson region bordering Crimea, had begun and that everything was going smoothly.

“The tests are being carried out in accordance with international law,” Kryzhanovsky told the 112 TV channel.

“Therefore it would be wrong to reproach Ukraine,” he said. Moscow has responded by putting its land-based and ship-borne air defence forces in Crimea on higher alert and a Russian military source has accused Ukraine of trying to create a “nervous situation.”

Warships from Russia''s Black Sea Fleet took up position off Crimea''s western coastline on Thursday to help strengthen the peninsula''s air defences, a Crimean military source told the RIA news agency.

“The ships'' air defence units have been put on a higher state of alert,” said the source. “Together with land-based air defence units on the peninsula, the ships have thrown up a practically impenetrable shield against the enemy''s rockets.”

Ukraine says the aim of the tests is to bolster its defence capabilities.

Kryzhanovsky said the Ukrainian military was ready for “any developments”.

Russia held large-scale war games across its southern military district in September, including Crimea.

NAMPA/REUTERS