Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is overseeing naval exercises off the tense Crimean peninsula.
More
than 1,000 troops, five ships and seven aircraft are taking part in the
exercises, which include simulated operations to disarm rebel groups
and rescue civilians from a battle zone.
Military authorities say the drills — which began Thursday — are routine.
But Crimea is a focus of tension between Russia and Ukraine.
It is home to a Russian naval base in addition to a Ukrainian one, and
Moscow has objected to Yushchenko’s plans to evict the Russian navy
when the lease agreement expires in 2017.
Yushchenko has
expressed concern about Russia’s intentions after its war with Georgia
last year and has called for major funding increases for Ukraine’s cash-strapped armed forces.
