Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Friday that it conducted a military “combat exercise” in the northwestern Black Sea and fired anti-ship missiles that destroyed a target at sea.
Ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet fired anti-ship cruise missiles “at a target ship in the combat training area in the northwestern part of the Black Sea,” the ministry said, quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency. ).
“UAV video surveillance and telemetry data confirmed the success of the combat exercise. The target ship was destroyed as a result of the missile attack,” Moscow added.
On Wednesday, Russia warned that it would regard Ukraine-bound ships in the Black Sea as “potential military ships” and the countries represented by the flying flags as parties to the conflict.
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that the fleet’s air component also carried out “actions to isolate the area temporarily closed to navigation” and “contain the ship.”
“Several areas in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the international waters of the Black Sea have been declared temporarily dangerous for passage,” Moscow said.
Tensions have risen in the Black Sea since Russia withdrew this week from the deal on Ukraine’s grain exports, crucial to the world’s food supply.
The agreement allowed cargo ships loaded with grain to leave Ukrainian ports through protected shipping lanes.
Source: TSF
