Russia holds naval drills as US vessel heads to Black Sea

Moskva cruiser will hold live-fire drills with other ships and military helicopters, amid simmering tensions between Russia and the West.

Russia’s Black Sea fleet has launched naval combat exercises as a US coastguard vessel made its way to the region amid simmering tensions between Russia and the West. Moscow recently alarmed Kyiv and Western capitals by building up its forces along the Ukrainian border, though last week it ordered a withdrawal of some troops. Russia’s Black Sea fleet said on Tuesday its Moskva cruiser would hold live-fire drills with other ships and military helicopters, the Interfax news agency reported.