“We have spent two years waiting for this target practice, and now we can say that Ukraine is solidly protected by a missile shield,” declared Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kuzmuk while summarizing results of an exercise at Cape Tarkhankut. Coast Guard troops successfully fulfilled the task given by the Defense Minister. Target practice was conducted within the framework of joint Ukrainian-Russian naval military training in the Black Sea. However, according to Kuzmuk, this event had nothing to do with the Black Sea Fleet, since there is no joint headquarters.
Mariners of both countries plan to launch cooperation in the Black Sea basin. They will master it during the 1998 Sea Breeze training scheduled for late October and early November. A large number of cruisers and navy aviation troops are expected to participate.
