Two missile ships, the Graivoron and Vyshny Volochek, will take part in drills as two US Navy vessels arrive in the region. Russia’s Black Sea fleet revealed the two ships will join the hovercraft, Samum and the Admiral Makarov frigate. In response, Ukraine has also announced it will hold land-based drills as Russian military equipment continues to build up on the border.
The Russian navy said today: “In the sea, the crews of the ships will conduct single and joint test artillery fires at surface and air targets.
“The role of a simulated enemy will be played by naval target shields.
“In addition to ships, aeroplanes and helicopters of naval aviation and air defence of the fleet will be involved in the check.”
With the increased tensions in the Black Sea and the Ukraine border, Margarita Simonyan – editor-in-chief of Russian state-run outlets RT and Sputnik claimed a conflict is now inevitable between the US and Russia.
She said: “In a conventional war, we could defeat Ukraine in two days.
“But it will be another kind of war.
“We’ll do it, and then the US will respond by turning off power to the Russian city Voronezh.”
Today the Russian Security Council Secretary has accused the West of using centres in Ukraine to launch cyberattacks on Russia.
Nikolai Patrushev said today “sabotage and reconnaissance” are in operation in Ukraine with the backing of “the West” which may be used to attack Russia.
With tensions rising, Joe Biden held a call with Putin where he put forward the idea of a summit to discuss relations.
Although several videos have seen military equipment moving towards the Ukraine border, Russia’s defence minister claimed the military is only there to conduct exercises in response to NATO military drills.
Sergei Shoigu said: “Over three weeks, two armies and three airborne units were successfully deployed to the western borders of the Russian Federation in areas for performing combat training exercises.”
During the call with Putin on April 13, Mr Biden reaffirmed the stance that the US will act to protect its national interests abroad.
A White House statement read: “President Biden emphasized the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The President voiced our concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in occupied Crimea and on Ukraine’s borders and called on Russia to de-escalate tensions.
“President Biden reaffirmed his goal of building a stable and predictable relationship with Russia consistent with US interests and proposed a summit meeting in a third country in the coming months to discuss the full range of issues facing the United States and Russia.”
