Military preparations for war on both sides

As the United States and other NATO countries plan to arm the Ukrainian junta and to provide advisers the situation is becoming more dangerous every day with NATO holding military exercises on the Black Sea and Russia making its own military preparations

2,000 troops: S. Russia 

braces for large-sale 

military drills

RT,

5 March, 2015

The Russian Defense Ministry has launched massive military exercises, involving over 2,000 troops and some 500 items of weaponry in southern Russia, including in the Caucasus.

The field-type exercises of the air defense forces will be taking place until April 10 in twelve military firing ranges, located in Russia's South, the North Caucasus and Crimean Federal Districts, as well as at Russian military bases in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia.

“Over 2,000 troops have been involved into the battle drills, and over 500 items of weaponry and military hardware are being used,” Interfax quoted a statement of the Southern Military District.

The training day will last for 10 hours, and half of the drills will take place at night.

During the month-long drills, Russian troops will be practicing tactical, special and technical skills, alongside driving modern military equipment, shooting and fire control.

The drills involve self-propelled howitzers“Gvozdika”, multiple artillery rocket systems“Grad”, mortars “Podnos”, anti-tank missile systems “Konkurs”, and modern intelligence drones “Navodchik-2”.

“At the end of the field drills, tactical maneuvers are planned,” the statement said.

“Combat units will repeal strikes from the aggressor’s tactical aircraft, drones and precision weapon projectiles.”

“They will also carry out operational reconnaissance of the air situation in conditions of the electromagnetic warfare”, it dded.

READ MORE: Russia could protect interests in Arctic via military means – defense minister

On Wednesday, a NATO flotilla of six ships arrived in the Black Sea to take part in the exercises with the Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish ships, the alliance said in a statement, stressing that the training will take course “in full compliance with international conventions”.

Russia carries out military exercises on a regular basis. The country’s south saw 1,700-strong drills of radiation resistance troops in February, and the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy is set to exercise in the sea of Japan.

Just who the aggressor is shown where the exercises are being held

6 NATO ships to stage war 

games in Black Sea

RT,

4 March, 2015

Six NATO warships arrived in the Black Sea on Wednesday to take part in exercises with the Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish navies, the Alliance’s Maritime Command (MARCOM) said in a statement.

The six vessels in the exercises are assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2), which is headed by US Rear Admiral Brad Williamson.

SNMG2 currently consists of flagship US cruiser guided missile, the USS Vicksburg, as well as Canada’s HMCS Fredericton, Turkey’s TCG Turgutreis, FGS Spessart of Germany, Italian frigate ITS Aliseo and ROS Regina Maria of the US.

“The training and exercises we will conduct with our Allies in the Black Sea prepares us to undertake any mission NATO might require to meet its obligations for collective defense,” Williamson is cited as saying by the MARCOM’s website.

“We are here at the invitation of the Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian governments and look forward to enhancing our interoperability with their navies,” the Rear Admiral added.

The drill will include simulated anti-air and anti-submarine warfare exercises, simulated small boat attacks and basic ship handling maneuvers.

The deployment of NATO vessels in the Black Sea is a scheduled visit, conducted “in full compliance with international conventions,” MARCOM stressed.

The group is expected to leave the Black Sea and make its way back to the Mediterranean later in March, it added.

"NATO regularly deploys ships to the Black Sea for maritime awareness and training. This scheduled deployment, given Russia's continued assertiveness, carries an additional message of reassurance to allies in the region," a NATO official told Reuters.

Previously, Russia’s envoy to NATO, Aleksandr Grushko, said Moscow will take “necessary countermeasures” in response to the Alliance’s increased presence in the Black Sea, which washes the shores of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and several other countries.

NATO sent additional ships to the Black Sea after Russia’s reunification with the Republic of Crimea in March last year and the beginning of military conflict in April same year.

The USS Vella Gulf, USS Ross, USS Truxton, and USS Taylor – as well as warships from other NATO member states – were spotted in the area.

In July 2014, NATO deployed a total of nine vessels to the Back Sea, setting a record in the post-Soviet period.

Russia to counteract NATO's boosted presence in Black Sea – envoy

Despite the Montreux Convention of 1936 allowing warships of non-Black Sea states to stay in the area for no more than 21 days, the alliance has managed to secure its presence by constantly rotating vessels.