With tensions high, Russia and Ukraine both stage military drills

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

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian fighter planes and ships practiced repelling air attacks on naval bases and responding with air strikes during military drills in the Black Sea, Interfax reported on Wednesday, as neighbouring Ukraine also held combat exercises.

The drills come at a time of high tension over Ukraine, with Ukrainian and U.S. officials voicing concerns about a possible Russian attack on its southern neighbour, a suggestion the Kremlin has dismissed as false.