Russia and Ukraine both step up military alert with combat drills

A Ukrainian Air Force fighter jet takes off during a drill in Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine November 23, 2021. Air Force Command of Ukrainian Armed Forces/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW/KYIV (Reuters) - Russia staged military drills in the Black Sea, south of Ukraine, on Wednesday and said it needed to sharpen the combat-readiness of its conventional and nuclear forces because of heightened NATO activity near its borders.

Ukraine, which with its ally the United States has said it believes Russia may be preparing an invasion, staged exercises of its own near the border with Belarus.