Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko explains that the only reason why Ukraine is now conducting missile tests in the country`s south near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula is the need to get prepared for a full-scale Russian incursion.
”Let me emphasize once again: the only reason that makes us conduct these exercises [by Ukraine`s Air Force] is to be always ready for a full-scale incursion by our aggressive neighbor,” he said at an official ceremony of the delivery of the colors of the National Guard`s Kulchytsky battalion on Thursday, December 1.
”I am sure that over the past two years we have demonstrated that we have created a new Ukrainian army,” he said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine plans to start two-day missile tests in the south of Ukraine close to the Russia-occupied Crimea on December 1 – a move that has angered Russia and made it put its air defense forces on high alert on the Crimea peninsula.
Secretary of Ukraine`s National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov asked Russia not to get into a panic about the missile tests. He assured that the drills would be conducted within the framework of international obligations and treaties.
Later Ukrainian military officials announced that guided medium-range surface-to-air missiles would be tested and the drills would involve crews of combat and transport aviation, surface-to-air missile troops units, radio-technical and communications troops, and also drones.
