Artillery and tank units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted large-scale exercises near Crimea, according to the Facebook of the Command of the Joint Military Forces of Ukraine.
“Artillery and tank reserves carrying out combat missions along the border with the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, upon a signal, moved to certain areas to counter the advance of a conditional enemy,” the message says.
According to the legend of the exercise, a tank unit, supported by infantry, tried to break through the Ukrainian line of defense. In order to counteract, a tank reserve and anti-tank artillery were introduced into the battle.
As the commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhiy Naev, noted, the tank crews worked out elements of maneuvering in open terrain and changing positions, installing a smoke screen and camouflaging equipment, reaching the line and destroying the enemy.
Earlier, Ukraine announced a gathering of military ground forces in the border areas of the country and in certain areas of the southern region. The aim of the exercise was to protect the border with the “Autonomous Republic of Crimea” and to fight against “illegal armed groups.”
In Russia, on April 6, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the start of major exercises in the country. In April, the military will conduct more than 4 thousand exercises of various scales, and the check will affect all types and branches of the Armed Forces. On April 14, exercises of the Black Sea Fleet also began in the Black Sea, the press service of the department clarified that the events are taking place as part of a control check during the winter training period.
The exercises are taking place against the background of reports of a pulling together of Russian troops to the border with Ukraine. The American newspaper The New York Times wrote that Russia had deployed 4,000 troops to the border with Ukraine. The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army Ruslan Khomchak, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada, also said that Russia is increasing the presence of troops near the border.
The Kremlin, in response to these reports, then replied that Russia “moves the armed forces within its territory at its discretion”, that “does not pose a threat to anyone and should not bother anyone.” The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the transfer of military equipment to Crimea is related to the planned training activities of the Southern Military District.
The escalation of the conflict in Donbass has been going on since March this year. In the unrecognized republics of the DPR and LPR, Ukraine was accused of aggravating the situation and violating the ceasefire. Former President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk then denied this and said that Kiev did not plan to start a war in Donbass.
