"Today, a joint command and staff exercise has kicked off in the Black Sea Fleet in accordance with the approved plan. The exercise will practice measures to exercise command and control of the Fleet’s forces in placing them on high alert and organizing inter-operability of units and formations within the multi-service grouping stationed on the Crimean Peninsula," the statement reads, according to TASS.
The Black Sea Fleet’s military command centers, the Crimean and Novorossiysk naval bases, the basic naval and coastal defense forces and naval aviation are involved in the drills, according to the statement.
The command and staff drills involve about 1,500 personnel and 200 items of military hardware.