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Russian warplanes launch missiles and drop bombs over the Black Sea in major military exercise - as US 'warns commercial pilots against overflying hot zone amid fears another MH17'

  Russia is conducting major aerial exercises including missile launches and bombings over the Black Sea amid warnings from the US of 'a...

 Russia is conducting major aerial exercises including missile launches and bombings over the Black Sea amid warnings from the US of 'another MH17'.

New videos indicate Moscow is continuing to mass its military might close to the Ukrainian frontier.

One video showed a detachment of warships moved by the Russian navy from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, the first such switch since Soviet times, according to reports.


A military convoy recently spotted in Krasnodar region, Russia, amid warnings of war with Ukraine

A military convoy recently spotted in Krasnodar region, Russia, amid warnings of war with Ukraine

Some of the military vehicles recently spotted in Bryansk region, Russia, amid fears Moscow is gearing for war

Some of the military vehicles recently spotted in Bryansk region, Russia, amid fears Moscow is gearing for war

Another highlights armaments and troops being moved by road and rail in Krasnodar, Rostov and Bryansk regions.


The developments come as some 50 Russian fighters, bombers and attack aircraft were due to be involved in 'exercises over the Black Sea', reported Interfax.


The war games come amid the greatest period in tension between Russia and Ukraine with almost 100,000 Russian troops believed to be massed on its borders with its ex-Soviet neighbour.

The report said: 'During the exercises, the planes will perform missile launches and bombardment of naval targets.'


A detachment of ships of the Caspian flotilla were filmed passing under the Crimean bridge

A detachment of ships of the Caspian flotilla were filmed passing under the Crimean bridge

Putin is continuing to build up his forced on the border with Ukraine, as the government warns troops numbers could swell to 110,000 with 7,000 tanks and other vehicles in support

Putin is continuing to build up his forced on the border with Ukraine, as the government warns troops numbers could swell to 110,000 with 7,000 tanks and other vehicles in support

It added crews from the Russian air force and the Black Sea Fleet would 'perform tasks to accompany ship strike groups and actions as part of reconnaissance strike complexes while ensuring security in the Black Sea.'

Naval aircraft and helicopters and the Black Sea Fleet also involved.

The detachment includes the Admiral Makarov frigate equipped with Caliber cruise missiles, the Grayvoron and Vyshny Volochek small missile ships, as well as large landing ships, the Samum hovercraft and the Ivan Golubets minesweeper.

On Tuesday Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow was conducting major exercises in response to threats from NATO.

298 people, including 80 children, were killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in July 2014

298 people, including 80 children, were killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in July 2014

During the last 'hot' conflict in the region, Malaysia Alrlines flight MH17 was shot out of the sky by pro-Moscow rebels, killing 298 people in July 2014.

The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) had recommended American pilots to show extreme caution when flying above certain regions of Russia and Ukraine.

The FAA had issued two notices to airmen (NOTAM), said the report.

One said: 'Air crews were told to exercise extreme caution when flying 'into, out of, within, or over' the areas of the Moscow flight information region (FIR), as well as the Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol, Dnepr and Kiev FIRs.

The notices were issued 'due to potential safety-of-flight risks associated with escalating regional tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Yesterday Russia detained a Ukrainian diplomat in St Petersburg for allegedly receiving classified information from the main security agency as tension between the two countries grows.

Oleksandr Sosonyuk, Ukraine's consul, was taken into custody by the Federal Security Service

Oleksandr Sosonyuk, Ukraine's consul, was taken into custody by the Federal Security Service

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said Alexander Sosonyuk, Ukraine's consul, was taken into custody during a meeting with a Russian in which he received 'information of a classified nature contained in the databases of law enforcement agencies and the FSB.'

The claims come amid high tensions between the two ex-Soviet countries with fears the situation could deteriorate into war.

The security service said Sosonyuk was 'caught red handed' and added his activities were 'incompatible' with his status as a diplomat.

Russia claimed Ukraine's consul was caught 'red handed' and had a 'clear hostile nature' to the country

Russia claimed Ukraine's consul was caught 'red handed' and had a 'clear hostile nature' to the country 

The FSB said in a statement: 'The foreign diplomat will be handled in accordance with the norms of international law.

'[He] has a clear hostile nature in relation to Russia.'

Sosonyuk headed the Ukrainian consulate in St Petersburg, Russia's second city.

Moscow denies inflaming the tense standoff on the frontier.

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