MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - Russia's Black Sea regions, including Crimea, are reliably protected from any encroachments, Southern Military District Commander Alexander Dvornikov said on Wednesday, adding that "a powerful group" may be used.
"There is firm confidence that we can do this. To achieve this, all our military units have the necessary modern, mobile weapons that make it possible to promptly create a powerful group on the operational track, capable of protecting Russia's Black Sea regions, including Crimea, and crush anyone who will encroach on the integrity of Russia, on the security of our citizens, at any moment," Dvornikov said in an interview with the Russian Defense Ministry's Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
He said he is confident about the personnel of the Black Sea Fleet, which "will achieve any tasks."
"The aviation units of the Air Force and air defense unit of the Southern Military District, which are currently deployed on the Crimean Peninsula, are now equipped with modern operational-tactical aviation planes and army aviation helicopters to 100%. The refurbished runway of the Belbek airfield can take planes of all types," he said.