Russia has said that it has performed live-fire naval exercise in the Black Sea just days after ditching the grain export deal and firing missiles at Ukrainian ports.
The footage purports to show a Russian warship performing a live fire exercise in the Black Sea, with it seen firing a missile at a mock enemy target.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Friday, 21st July, along with a statement claiming (in English): “Crews of Black Sea Fleet ships perform missile firing at sea targets during exercise.”
The Russian MoD added: “In accordance with the Black Sea Fleet combat training plan, the crew of missile boat Ivanovets carried out live firing of anti-ship cruise missiles at a target ship at a combat training range north-western part of the Black Sea.
“Telemetry data and video monitoring from unmanned aerial vehicles confirmed the success of the exercise, and, as a result of the missile strike, the mock target was destroyed.
“In the course of the joint exercise, the Fleet’s ships and aviation practised isolating an area temporarily closed to navigation and also carried out a set of measures to apprehend a mock intruder ship.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 513th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 21st July 2023, Russia had lost about 240,690 personnel, 4,133 tanks, 8,080 armoured combat vehicles, 4,610 artillery units, 692 multiple launch rocket systems, 440 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 310 helicopters, 3,933 drones, 1,298 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 7,145 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 686 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has said that Ukraine has begun using controversial cluster bombs supplied by the US and that they are doing so “quite effectively”.
Ukraine has warned that it may begin targeting shipping from Russian and Russian-occupied ports.
It also indicated that it was ready to fight on the Black Sea, after Russia declared a naval blockade and the bombardment of Ukrainian ports.
The moves come after Moscow pulled out of the Black Sea grain export deal on Monday.
Wheat prices are reportedly continuing to climb on global markets after Russia withdrew from the grain deal. Wheat was trading almost 1.5 per cent higher on the Chicago Board of Trade exchange on Thursday morning.
This comes after wheat rose over 8 per cent on Wednesday.
The United Nations Security Council is reportedly set to meet today, Friday, to discuss the “humanitarian consequences” of Moscow’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal.
European Union foreign ministers have discussed a proposal for a EUR 20 billion (GBP 17.2 billion) fund to pay for weaponry, military aid and ammunition for Ukraine over the next four years.
The EU also said that it was extending sanctions against Russia for another six months, until the end of January next year.
