Above: a Russian military convoy in the Krasnodar region

– As US ‘warns commercial pilots against overflying hot zone amid fears another MH17’

• Russia is conducting major exercises including missile launches into Black Sea 
• Videos show warships being moved from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea 
• FAA warns American pilots warns about flying over regions of Russia & Ukraine
• Ukrainian diplomat Oleksandr Sosonyuk has been taken into custody by the FSB 
• Comes amid high tensions between the two countries with fears of possible war

Anthony Thrower – Mail Online April 17, 2021

Russia is conducting major aerial exercises including missile launches and bombings over the Black Sea amid warnings from the US of ‘another MH17’.

New videos indicate Moscow is continuing to mass its military might close to the Ukrainian frontier.

One video showed a detachment of warships moved by the Russian navy from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, the first such switch since Soviet times, according to reports.

Another highlights armaments and troops being moved by road and rail in Krasnodar, Rostov and Bryansk regions.

The developments come as some 50 Russian fighters, bombers and attack aircraft were due to be involved in ‘exercises over the Black Sea’, reported Interfax.

The war games come amid the greatest period in tension between Russia and Ukraine with almost 100,000 Russian troops believed to be massed on its borders with its ex-Soviet neighbour.

The report said: ‘During the exercises, the planes will perform missile launches and bombardment of naval targets.’

It added crews from the Russian air force and the Black Sea Fleet would ‘perform tasks to accompany ship strike groups and actions as part of reconnaissance strike complexes while ensuring security in the Black Sea.’

Naval aircraft and helicopters and the Black Sea Fleet also involved.

The detachment includes the Admiral Makarov frigate equipped with Caliber cruise missiles, the Grayvoron and Vyshny Volochek small missile ships, as well as large landing ships, the Samum hovercraft and the Ivan Golubets minesweeper.

On Tuesday Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow was conducting major exercises in response to threats from NATO.

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