Russia installs surface-to-air missiles as tension rises on Crimean Peninsula

Russia installed a new division of S-400 surface-to-air missiles in Crimea yesterday in an escalation of military tension on the Crimean Peninsula.

Russian annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, triggering economic sanctions by the EU and US, and a tense standoff in the region.

The US said last month that it planned to provide Ukraine with “enhanced defensive capabilities”, which officials said included Javelin anti-tank missiles.

This is the second division that has been armed with the S-400 air defence system on the peninsula, after the first was sent in spring last year near the port town of Fedosia.

The new division will be based next to the town of Sevastopol and will control the airspace over the border with Ukraine, the RIA news agency reported.

The new air defence system, designed to defend Russia’s borders, can be turned into combat mode in less than five minutes, Interfax news agency reported.

Russia’s defence ministry said the S-400, known as Triumph, can bring down airborne targets at a range of 400 kilometres and ballistic missiles at 60 kilometres.

They were introduced to the Russian military’s arsenal in 2007, the ministry said.

Last month it emerged that Turkey would take charge of a first consignment of S-400 missiles from Russia by the spring of 2020 in a deal worth a total of US$2.5billion.