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[1/3]A still from video, released by Russia’s Defense Ministry, shows what it said was the missile ship Ivanovets during exercises in the Black Sea, in this still from video released July 21, 2023. Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
MOSCOW, July 21 (Reuters) – Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Friday its Black Sea Fleet had practiced firing rockets at surface targets during a live-fire exercise, two days after warning that ships heading for Ukrainian Black Sea ports could be seen as military targets.
Russia issued its warning earlier this week after it backed out of the Black Sea grain deal on Monday, revoking safety guarantees for vessels carrying Ukrainian grain.
Kiev later said it wanted to set up a temporary sea route to try to continue its grain exports, prompting Russia to warn that any ships heading to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports would be seen as possibly carrying military cargo.
“In accordance with the Black Sea Fleet Forces combat training plan, the crew of the missile boat Ivanovets conducted live firing of anti-ship cruise missiles at a target ship…” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“Telemetry data and video surveillance from unmanned aerial vehicles confirmed the success of the exercise, and the target vessel was destroyed as a result of the rocket attack,” he added.
He said his fleet had also rehearsed the closure of areas temporarily closed to shipping and practiced “apprehending an offending vessel”.
Reuters reporting, writing by Caleb Davis, editing by Andrew Osborn
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