Ukraine Begins Naval Drills in Black Sea Region

The Ukrainian navy began naval military exercises with involvement of naval task forces, naval infantry units, naval aviation, and coastal artillery in the Black Sea Region.

KIEV (Sputnik) — The Ukrainian navy began on Wednesday tactical naval drills with involvement of air units in the Black Sea region, the Defense Ministry said.

"The exercises are aimed at practicing interoperability of naval task forces, naval infantry units, naval aviation, and coastal artillery," the ministry said in a statement.

"The drills involve military personnel with experience of combat action during the special anti-terrorism operation in the east of the country," the statement said.

In March 2014, the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea decided to break away from Ukraine and reunite with Russia at a referendum. Kiev and its Western allies slammed the move as illegal annexation.

The reunification of Crimea was followed by the beginning of an armed conflict between Kiev and independence militias in eastern Ukraine. The West accuses Russia of fueling the fighting.

NATO has been boosting its military presence in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea since spring 2014, citing security concerns over alleged Russian aggression. Moscow has said that the NATO buildup could only further escalate tensions.