Russia Launches Large Scale Military Drills Around Crimea Peninsula

Russian military forces have launched large-scale military drills around the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. The Russian Defence ministry said on Monday that 12,500 servicemen are taking part in the drills across its southern military region, which encompasses the Russia’s North Caucasus and the annexed Crimea region. The ministry statement read: “The exercise includes around 12,500 servicemen, aviation, military equipment and ships” Press TV reports: The Russian Navy in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea are participating in the drills and that planes also are being used in the exercises, the statement added. The six-day strategic military drills dubbed ‘Kavkaz 2016’ will test the army’s ability to “plan, prepare and carry out military actions.” Russia’s military forces last month staged massive snap military drills in districts close to the border with Ukraine and the Baltic states, putting ground troopers as well as airmen and marines on full combat readiness for possible future operations. Russia has also recently beefed up its military might in Crimea by delivering its most advanced air defense system, the S-400, to the peninsula. Tensions between Moscow and Kiev have flared in recent weeks after Russia’s Federal Security Service said that it had thwarted an incursion by the Ukrainian military [...]