Armed Forces To Open Fire If Operational Aircraft Fired Upon By RF Military On Captured Drilling Rigs In Black Sea

The Armed Forces will open fire if operational aircraft is fired upon by Russian Federation military on the captured drilling rigs in the Black Sea.

Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak announced this to Ukrainian News Agency.

This was his comment to the fire attack by RF military and security forces of a Ukrainian naval An-26 plane above the Black Sea near Odesa.

"This was transport, not combat aircraft. When fire is opened upon a combat aircraft the pilot can and must open fire," the minister stressed.

Ukraine will not stop performing certain operations in this part of the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian military plane was flying within Ukrainian territory, Poltorak emphasised.

As Ukrainian News Agency reported, the Navy on February 1 said that RF military and security forces used small-arms weapon to attack an An-26 plane above the captured drilling rigs in the Black Sea.