Ukraine is test-firing missiles near the disputed Crimean peninsula, despite a Russian threat to shoot them down and an apparent warning that Moscow could also target their launch sites.
"Despite threats from the Russian Federation, we will today and tomorrow conduct planned exercises, which include launches and tests of anti-aircraft missiles, because our air-defence system was destroyed over the last 25 years," Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko said at a military base on Thursday.
“No one will stop us, and we will act in the interests of the security of the Ukrainian people and state. We already have news of the first successful launches that were conducted this morning,” he added.
Ukrainian media have published copies of a written warning that government officials and diplomats say Kiev received from Russia, threatening to shoot down any missiles detected close to the coast of Crimea.
“If any missiles launched present a threat to Russian sites located in this region of the Russian Federation’s territory (on land, sea or air), counter strikes will be made to destroy their launchers,” added Russia’s defence ministry in the letter it reportedly gave to Ukraine’s military attache in Moscow.
Shoot down
Speaking to Russian media, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the threat to shoot down the missiles but did not mention any possible strikes on launch sites in Ukraine.
“Warships of the Black Sea Fleet . . . have taken up positions near Crimea’s western coast for the duration of Ukraine’s planned missile tests from December 1st-2nd,” a Russian military source in Crimea told Russia’s Ria news agency.
“The ships’ air defence units have been put on a higher state of alert. Their equipment is designed in the first instance to shoot down heavy anti-ship missiles and cruise missiles. Together with land-based air defence units on the peninsula, the ships have formed a practically impenetrable shield against the enemy’s rockets.”
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, in response to a pro-western uprising in Ukraine that ousted its then Kremlin-backed president, Viktor Yanukovich.
According to international law, the Black Sea peninsula is still Ukrainian territory, but Russia’s military has built up a powerful presence there.
In recent weeks, Russia arrested several alleged Ukrainian intelligence agents in Crimea, and Kiev’s operatives snatched two former Ukrainian soldiers who joined the Russian army after annexation; they now face charges of treason and desertion.
Death toll
As well as controlling Crimea, Russia continues to prop up separatists in eastern Ukraine, where fighting since 2014 has killed some 10,000 people.
“Basically, the only reason we have to conduct these tests is the need to be ready at all times for a full-scale invasion by our aggressive neighbour,” Mr Poroshenko said.
Russia accuses Ukraine of trying to besmirch it in the eyes of US president-elect Donald Trump, who has spoken in favour of an east-west rapprochement.
"We don't want confrontation with anyone," Russia's president Vladimir Putin said in a conciliatory state-of-the-nation address on Thursday. "Unlike our foreign colleagues who are seeing Russia as an enemy, we have never been looking for enemies. We need friends."
