Ukraine condemns Russia’s move to deploy missiles at annexed Crimea

A move by Russia to deploy a fourth S-400 surface-to-air missile battalion on the annexed Crimean peninsula has been condemned by Ukraine.

According to Olexiy Makeyev, the Ukrainian foreign ministry‘s political director, the development is “dangerous not only for Ukraine” but the whole Black Sea region.

“The system’s operational range is up to 400km so it places all literal states in the Black Sea region, including NATO members under the threat of an attack. We know that those missiles can be used also for ground targets,” he said.

Makeyev’s comments came after Russia’s southern military district spokesman Vadim Astafiyev revealed that S-400s would soon be deployed to Crimea and the system is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

The development is coming after a host of European politicians are currently mulling sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s Russia over its aggression against Ukraine.

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The move comes after Russia captured three Ukrainian vessels at sea, an incident the West fears could ignite a wider conflict.

Russia opened fire on the Ukrainian boats and then seized them and their crews on Sunday near Crimea – which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Bartosz Cichocki told Reuters the incident in the Kerch Strait vindicated Warsaw’s call for a more unified Western stance towards Russia.

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