Russia carries out live-missile exercises in Black Sea

Russian troops have practised firing rockets at surface targets in a live fire exercise in the Black Sea, the country’s defence ministry said on Friday (21 July).

It comes two days after the ministry warned that ships heading to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports could be considered military targets.

Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal, a wartime deal that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine, on Monday.

The ministry also said troops have rehearsed closing off areas temporarily ruled off-limits to shipping and “apprehending an offending vessel.”