RUSSIANS OVER CRIMEA

摘要

Vladimir Trendafilovski provides a snapshot of the some of the recent Russian maneuvers on Ukraine's border. AMONTH-LONG RUSSIAN BUILD-UP of troops along the border with Ukraine in late March/April culminated in a big show of force on April 22. Officially declared a snap combat readiness inspection of the troops in the Southern and Western Military Districts, it was the largest combined forces exercise to take part in the Opuk range on the Crimea, a territory of Ukraine that was annexed by the Russian Federation in 2014. With Crimea being part of the Southern Military District, many of its organic aviation units took part in the exercise - including the local naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as units based outside the Crimea that contributed well over 50 aircraft, bringing the total of participating aircraft to 200. A large variety of aircraft took part - Ka-29 and Mi-8 combat transport helicopters delivered airmobile troops, while II-76 heavy transports paradropped airborne troops and their combat vehicles.