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'<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The Sea Breeze 2021 manoeuvres will last for two weeks.<br /><br />They’ll involve about 30 warships and 40 aircraft from the US and its NATO allies.<br /><br />Moscow has criticised the drills, and said it would closely monitor them.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The incidents come as part of an escalation of tensions in the Black Sea.<br /><br />Last week, Moscow said one of its warships fired warning shots at a British destroyer.<br /><br />Britain denied that account, insisted its ship wasn’t fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.<br /><br />The UK, like most of the West, recognises Crimea as part of Ukraine despite the peninsula’s annexation by Russia in 2014.<br /><br />#SeaBreeze #Ukraine #Russia