(Dan Tri) – Russia shot down two suspected Ukrainian ballistic missiles aimed at the Crimean peninsula early this morning, June 10.
An oil refinery in Crimea caught fire after a UAV raid in April (Photo: Reuters).
RT quoted Mr. Sergey Aksyonov, head of the Crimean government, as saying that Russian air defense systems in Crimea intercepted two Ukrainian-made Grom-2 ballistic missiles.
`I ask everyone to stay calm and only trust official sources,` Mr. Aksyonov advised people in Crimea.
Grom-2 (roughly translated: Thunder) is a short-range ballistic missile produced by Ukraine, combining the features of a tactical missile system and a multiple rocket launcher.
In early May, Ukraine was suspected of using at least two Grom-2 missiles to attack Crimea.
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 (Map: Aljazeera).
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a controversial referendum.
The future status of the peninsula is expected to be a key content in any agreement to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Andrey Yusov, spokesman for the General Intelligence Service of Ukraine (GUR), said yesterday that Ukraine aims to regain Crimea before winter this year.
Russia has repeatedly warned that any attempt by Ukraine to reclaim Crimea will be met with a fierce response.
Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko (Photo: Reuters).
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will begin deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus after special storage facilities are ready on July 7.
`Everything is going according to plan,` Mr. Putin told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko during a reception at the Black Sea resort of Sochi on June 9.
The Kremlin owner added: `The preparation of relevant facilities ends on July 7 or July 8, and we will immediately begin activities related to the deployment of various types of equipment.`
In March, Mr. Putin agreed to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, similar to what the United States has done with its allies.
The US and its allies are closely monitoring Moscow’s nuclear moves amid the escalating conflict in Ukraine.