Ukraine Tests Vilkha Missile Complexes In Response To Alleged Russian Threat -Defense Body

Ukraine has tested the Vilkha missile complexes in the country's southern Odesa region as part of the plan on potential response to alleged Russian aggression, the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council said on Thursday

KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd May, 2019) Ukraine has tested the Vilkha missile complexes in the country's southern Odesa region as part of the plan on potential response to alleged Russian aggression, the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council said on Thursday.

Ukrainian missile tests began on Tuesday and will finish on Saturday. Apart from Vilkha, the Ukrainian military will also test the Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles.

"Successful tests of 'Vilkha-M' missiles with increased range capability and 'Vilkha-R' missiles with dispensing warhead, took place in Odesa region," the press office said in a statement citing Ukrainian Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Serhiy Kryvonos.

The deputy secretary also said that the council had set straight tasks concerning the production of new missiles for multiple-launch rocket systems as a potential response to Russia's alleged aggression against Ukraine.

According to the statement, the Ukrainian military have tested the technical solutions for the development of the missiles as well as the results of hitting targets at maximum range.

In April, Ukrainian former President Petro Poroshenko announced the successful completion of the previous round of Neptune tests in Odesa region. He said that these missiles would be put into service of the country's naval forces as soon as possible. According to Poroshenko's adviser Yuri Biryukov, Neptune is capable of skimming five meters high from the sea surface and attack the rival ship.

Relations between Moscow and Kiev deteriorated in 2014 following Crimea's reunification with Russia and start of the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Kiev has accused Russia of interfering in its internal affairs and blamed Moscow for the Donbas conflict. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations, stressing that it has nothing to do with the internal conflict in Ukraine..