Russia sends missile ship to Black Sea because NATO, US-Ukraine drills are 'destabilizing'
The Russian military has begun scheduled exercises in the Black Sea, where NATO's Sea Breeze exercises are taking place, the press service of the Southern Military District reported.
About ten ships took part in the exercise, in particular the large landing ships Azov and Caesar Kunikov, the small missile ships Orekhovo-Zuevo and Mirage, the missile ships Ivanovets, Naberezhnye Chelny and R-60.
The ships will practice at sea ranges. In the final stage of the exercise, the fleets will practice firing missiles and artillery at targets from anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems.
"The Black Sea Fleet's ship group continues to carry out a series of measures to monitor the activities of NATO ships participating in the Sea Breeze-2019 naval exercise in the northwestern part of the Black Sea," the statement added.
The US-Ukraine Sea Breez 2019 exercise is currently taking place in the Black Sea, with the participation of about 30 ships, 30 aircraft and more than 900 military personnel. The Russian Foreign Ministry calls this exercise an attempt to destabilize the situation in the region.
