Russians in Crimea actually bracing for hostilities - army spox

The Russians deployed in the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula are preparing to fight off Ukrainian forces.

That’s according to the chief of the coordination press center of Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, Natalia Humeniuk, as she answered a reporter’s question of whether the Russians are really preparing to repel Ukraine’s landing effort in temporarily occupied Crimea, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“In fact, they are really getting ready for fighting. In this way, they imply to the population of Crimea that the faith in the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be strong,” she said.

The head of the press center stated that Ukraine is observing the Russians fortifying their defense positions on the peninsula.

“But this is more reminiscent that they are preparing to hold back their own landing, with which we have been threatened since a full-scale invasion. If they do dare to proceed with a landing attempt, it is likely they will run back to Crimea,” Humeniuk said.

Answering questions about the operations of Russia’s air force in Crimea, the spokesperson said that certain moves by tactical aviation have been observed from time to time.

“They try to show off their presence and might. However, we still see that they are trying to move aircraft to safer areas where our strikes can’t reach. Although this safety range is evaporating over time,” the official said.

As reported earlier, on March 4, the Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration said the Russians launched a missile from Crimea, targeting a village in the region.