RUSSIAN warships of the Black Sea fleet from the Sevastopol and Novorossiisk naval stations are conducting exercises off the Crimea Peninsula, Reuters reports.
Russia's moves are being closely watched as it masses of troops near Ukraine. Moscow denies any plan to invade, saying it is maintaining its own security against threatened NATO aggression.
Russia says the aim of the drills was the defence of the Russian Crimean naval bases as well as its economy.
Russia announced last month its navy would stage a sweeping set of exercises involving all its fleets this month and next, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, the latest show of strength in a surge of military activity during the standoff with the West.
SeaNews Turkey
Russia's moves are being closely watched as it masses of troops near Ukraine. Moscow denies any plan to invade, saying it is maintaining its own security against threatened NATO aggression.
Russia says the aim of the drills was the defence of the Russian Crimean naval bases as well as its economy.
Russia announced last month its navy would stage a sweeping set of exercises involving all its fleets this month and next, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, the latest show of strength in a surge of military activity during the standoff with the West.
SeaNews Turkey