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Russian armed forces start drills in Crimea

Xinhua, January 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Russian armed forces deployed in Crimea have started naval and air drills, spokesman for the Black Sea Fleet said Friday.

"Frontline bombers Su-24 are carrying out sorties exercises in bomb and missile strikes against ground targets," Interfax news agency quoted Nikolai Voskresensky as saying.

According to Voskresensky, the drills are being held at the Opuk landing range.

Altogether 15 Be-12 anti-submarine aircraft and Ka-27 helicopters take part in the drills, as well as the patrol ship Ladny, the spokesman said.

In total, the air force has planned about 50 missions during the day-long drills.

Earlier this month, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian armed forces in 2015 would focus on increasing combat capabilities in all strategic directions, including Crimea, which Russia incorporated last March.

Last November, Shoigu said that Russia would create a "full-fledged and self-reliant" army group on the Crimean Peninsula. Endi