Russia's Black Sea Fleet involved in combat training; not threatening Ukraine - deputy minister
MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Black Sea Fleet is not threatening Ukraine but is involved in combat training, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Thursday.
"Currently, all formations and units are doing their daily activities, including those associated with combat training. Such actions pose no threat. There are no legal limitations on that," the deputy defense minister said.
Kyiv says, in particular, that the military must stay within territorial boundaries envisaged by the current legislation and any displacement will be seen as Russian military aggression, he said.
"The Russian Black Sea Fleet is based in Ukraine strictly in accordance with current Russian-Ukrainian agreements. Places of deployment, personnel numbers and the number of weapons in use at Russian army subdivisions are in strict compliance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreement on the parameters of the Black Sea Fleet division of May 28, 1997 and today are way below those levels," Antonov said.
The Black Sea Fleet is operating as usual, and its troops are involved in combat training, he added.