Ukraine and NATO Conduct Military Drills in Black Sea Amid Growing Tensions with Russia

'Ukraine and NATO Conduct Military Drills in Black Sea Amid Growing Tensions with Russia'

Tensions between Russia and western powers could go up another notch as Ukraine and NATO launch their own military drills in the contested Black Sea.

The Sea Breeze 2021 manoeuvres will last for two weeks.

They’ll involve about 30 warships and 40 aircraft from the US and its NATO allies.

Moscow has criticised the drills, and said it would closely monitor them.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence released a video on Tuesday showing another anxious encounter where Russian warplanes reportedly “prevented” a Dutch frigate from entering Russian waters.

The incidents come as part of an escalation of tensions in the Black Sea.

Last week, Moscow said one of its warships fired warning shots at a British destroyer.

Britain denied that account, insisted its ship wasn’t fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

The UK, like most of the West, recognises Crimea as part of Ukraine despite the peninsula’s annexation by Russia in 2014.

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