- Title: RUSSIA: Military jet fighters in drills close to Ukraine
- Date: 24th April 2014
- Summary: KRASNODAR REGION, RUSSIA (APRIL 24, 2014) (REUTERS) TWO SUKHOI-25 JET FIGHTERS TAKING OFF SUKHOI-25 JET FIGHTER ABANDONING LANDING SUKHOI-25 JET FIGHTER ON RUNWAY THROUGH GRASS SUKHOI-25 JET FIGHTER LANDING TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICER JET FIGHTER ON AIRFIELD TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICER TRAFFIC CONTROL RADAR MONITOR THREE PILOTS WALKING ON AIRFIELD MAN UNCOVERING JET FIGHTER CABIN
- Embargoed: 9th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVA6F6IWKO3UOVETNAYGD57OTH8B
- Story Text: Russian military held drills in the southwestern Krasnodar region close to the Ukrainian territory on Thursday (April 24).
The Southern military district held drills to set up a competition between pilots of Sukhoi-25 jet fighters in overcoming the enemy missile defence and firing at land targets from the distance of 1,500 metres.
The Kremlin has built up forces on Ukraine's border - estimated by NATO officials at up to 40,000 troops - and maintains it has the right to protect Russian-speakers if they come under threat, a reason it gave for annexing the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine last month.
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had begun military drills near the border with Ukraine, where it has deployed tens of thousands of troops, in response to "Ukraine's military machine" and NATO exercises in eastern Europe. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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