Black Sea Fleet and Ukrainian Navy to conduct joint missile firings in summer

05.05.2011 Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and Ukrainian Navy are about to hold joint missile firings in summer 2011 in the Black Sea, reports TSN.ua.

That was said by Ukrainian Navy Deputy Commander VADM Sergei Yeliseyev and BSF Deputy Commander VADM Sergei Menyailo on May 4 at the final planning conference of Russian-Ukrainian exercise Fairway of Peace 2011 which is to be held in May 23-27.

Answering the question why missile firings earlier planned to be conducted during the Fairway of Peace exercise were canceled, Menyailo said nobody had revoked the firings.

"Considering eventful nature of the coming exercise Fairway of Peace 2011, significant force will be involved... we've decided to plan firings more thoroughly, with due regard to security measures", he added.

"In accordance with decision agreed upon, missile firings will be held under scheduled combat training program. And we're going to do whatever possible to carry out those firings. Basically, missile firing is potentially hazardous activity, especially in such region and with such force. So, we will carefully prepare for that and excellently perform", emphasized Menyailo.

Yeliseyev in his turn confirmed that in coordination with Ukrainian Navy "the firings were postponed due to preparation complexity". According to the admiral, such decision was made primarily because these joint exercises have not been conducted for a quite long time, so elaborate preparations are needed.

"To feel the shoulder of each other and be sure of actions taken in the next minute", Yeliseyev said.

According to the officer, joint missile firings will be conducted in June or July.