Kyiv [Ukraine], July 6: Russia's Defense Ministry said on July 5 that its forces were conducting exercises involving Yars mobile nuclear missile launchers, less than a month after conducting tactical nuclear weapons maneuvers with ally Belarus.
Yars missile launch teams in at least two different regions prepared to travel a distance of 100 km, as well as practice camouflage and deployment, according to Reuters.
Footage released showed a mobile launcher moving along forest paths and taking up position before troops covered it with camouflage netting. The Russian defence ministry said similar exercises would be carried out by other missile units "in the near future".
In June, Russia conducted tactical nuclear weapons exercises with Belarus after Moscow accused Western powers of a threat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the time that Moscow did not need to use nuclear weapons to ensure victory in Ukraine, but added that he did not rule out changes to the country's nuclear doctrine.
Ukraine receives Patriot missiles
German Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Jaeger said on July 5 that the third Patriot air defense system supplied by Germany has arrived in Ukraine.
"It will help improve the protection of civilians and infrastructure. Ukrainian soldiers have completed appropriate training in Germany," he said.
On the same day, TASS quoted Russian Air and Missile Defense Forces Commander Andrey Semyonov as saying that the Patriot systems provided to Ukraine by the West proved unable to protect targets as well as the system itself.
He said that Russian air defense systems have demonstrated their ability to repel attacks by all types of enemy air attack capabilities.
"This is in contrast to the much-vaunted Patriot air defense systems, which were supplied to Ukraine by NATO countries and, as the experience of the special military operation showed, have proven not only incapable of protecting the designated locations but also against modern Russian means," General Semyonov said.
Black Sea Fleet relocated?
Reuters on July 5 quoted Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, commander of the Ukrainian Navy, as saying that Russia's Black Sea Fleet was forced to move almost all of its warships from Crimea to other bases.
According to him, Russia moved the ships because the center was attacked by Ukraine.
He said the Ukrainian Navy's missile and drone attacks had caused heavy damage to the Sevastopol base, a logistics hub for repair, maintenance, training and ammunition storage, among other important functions for Russia.
"They were established for decades, maybe centuries. And it is clear that they are losing this center," he told reporters from the port city of Odessa ahead of Ukraine's Navy Day (July 7).
Russia has not commented on the statement.
Hungarian Prime Minister visits Russia
Kossuth Radio on July 5 quoted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as sharing the view that major countries should arrange dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, but Hungary wants to encourage the parties involved in the conflict to make peace.
Mr Orban pointed out that Hungary "wants to encourage the parties" to hold negotiations and this was his purpose when visiting Kyiv on July 2.
The Kremlin said Mr Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Ukraine issue during talks in Moscow on July 5. This is said to be Mr Orban's second stop on his "peace mission".
Meanwhile, according to Reuters, Mr. Orban's visit to Moscow caused criticism from EU allies and warnings that the leader's statements did not represent the EU.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper