Russian Transport Minister Expects ICAO to Assess Ukrainian Drills Near Crimea

Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov said Thursday he expected an analysis in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of the Ukrainian military exercises near Crimea.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On Thursday, Ukraine launched missile firing drills in airspace over the Blask Sea.

"The issue is being considered on the platform of ICAO. I personally signed a letter to the president of the company and I personally conducted talks late last week with the secretary general … I expect that there will be an analysis of this event on the international arena," Sokolov told RIA Novosti.

He added that there was no threat to civil aviation.

The Russian air transport agency Rosaviatsia said last week that Ukraine unilaterally decided to hold missile firing exercises near Simferopol in violation of international agreements. The missile drills are expected to take place on December 1-2 between 05:00 GMT and 17:00 GMT, Rosaviatsia said, adding that the launches will extend into Russia’s civil airspace and present a threat to flight safety.

On November 24, the Russian Defense Ministry summoned Ukraine's defense attache to hand him the note of protest.