Ukraine strengthens its air defense near the Sea of Azov
The Head of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO) press center, Vitaliy Sarantsev said that Ukraine has deployed anti-sabotage forces and has strengthened its air defense in near the Azov Sea, UNIAN reports.
He explained that these were necessary preparations against possible Russian threats. Sarantsev did not specify where exactly the new troops are located but he added that additional fortifications were established near the Azov Sea and that communication between joint forces divisions and the Ukrainian Navy was established.
“Today, Mariupol and the entire Azov coast is protected from land and sea,” Sarantsev added, stressing that the Ukrainian troops “are ready to stop any aggression and to give an adequate response.”
Ukraine started the Joint Forces Operation started in April after the completion of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in the Donbas as part of the law on reintegration of the Donbas that was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in January. According to this document, Kyiv recognized the territories of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk Republics as “occupied territories”, and Russia as an aggressor-country.