Russia sends fighter jets to Crimea to prevent Ukraine attack
Despite affirming that Russia will not launch a war with Ukraine, Russia still sent more fighter jets to the Crimean peninsula.
On December 17, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the country was deploying more than 10 Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets to the Crimean peninsula. These aircraft will be stationed permanently at the Belbek air base, which has just been upgraded and expanded in scale on the peninsula.
This is considered the latest warning move from Moscow after a series of accusations that Ukraine is being incited and preparing to carry out "provocative activities" near the Crimean peninsula.
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Russia sent 10 more fighter jets including Su-27 and Su-30 to a military base in Crimea. |
Earlier, on December 13, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a warning that the Kiev government was likely to carry out military provocations in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine in the coming days. The self-proclaimed authorities in Donetsk and Lugansk (Donbass region) also spoke out about Ukraine massing up to 12,000 troops, 50 tanks, 40 rocket artillery systems, 180 artillery pieces and mortars close to the areas controlled by these self-proclaimed separatist states.
Commenting on the action of sending fighter jets to Crimea this time, many opinions believe that Russia is not only maintaining the ability to respond quickly to Ukraine's unexpected military activities to protect the Crimean peninsula and support Donbass, but also wants to increase long-term military weapons in this sensitive area.
In addition, Russia is also present in large numbers of soldiers and modern military equipment in the border area with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also accused the Russian army corps on the border of making Kiev feel insecure.
However, in parallel with Russia's troop movements on December 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke out that Moscow will not launch a war with Ukraine. In an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda, Mr. Lavrov emphasized: "We will not launch a war with Ukraine, I promise you that."
The Russian Foreign Minister affirmed that there is no need to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine and believes that the majority of Ukrainians want to return to normal relations with Russia.
Mr. Lavrov said that Kiev will continue its provocative actions in the border area between the two countries, and Russia will have a tough response in case President Poroshenko promotes this plan.
