Russian military ended up deploying its combat aircraft in response to several Ukrainian warships crossing Russia’s territorial waters and attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait.
According to a Sputnik correspondent, Su-25 attack aircraft are now patrolling the area in the vicinity of the Crimean Bridge which spans the strait; Ka-52 attack helicopters were also spotted tracking the movements of the Ukrainian ships.
Earlier today, a trio of Ukrainian Navy ships crossed into temporarily off-limits Russian territorial waters, moving from the Black Sea to the Kerch Strait, prompting the Russian border guard to deploy its own vessels to stop the intruders.
READ MORE: Three Ukrainian Navy Ships Crossed Russian Waters, Entered Kerch Strait — FSB
The Russian Federal Security Service's border control department has said that it is doing everything it can to curb the “provocation” by the Ukrainian vessels.