You're reading: Deputy minister: Russia’s Black Sea Fleet involved in combat training; not threatening Ukraine

The Russian Black Sea Fleet is not threatening Ukraine but is involved in combat training, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Thursday.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet is not threatening Ukraine but is
involved in combat training, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov
told reporters on Thursday.

“Currently, all formations and units are doing their daily
activities, including those associated with combat training. Such
actions pose no threat. There are no legal limitations on that,” the
deputy defense minister said.

Kyiv says, in particular, that the military must stay within
territorial boundaries envisaged by the current legislation and any
displacement will be seen as Russian military aggression, he said.

“The Russian Black Sea Fleet is based in Ukraine strictly in
accordance with current Russian-Ukrainian agreements. Places of
deployment, personnel numbers and the number of weapons in use at
Russian army subdivisions are in strict compliance with the
Russian-Ukrainian agreement on the parameters of the Black Sea Fleet
division of May 28, 1997 and today are way below those levels,” Antonov
said.

The Black Sea Fleet is operating as usual, and its troops are involved in combat training, he added.