SEVASTOPOL, January 13. /TASS/. Russia’s S-400 missile systems will take up combat duty on Saturday near Cape Fiolent in Crimea’s Sevastopol, the Black Sea Fleet’s press service said.

Early last year, a regiment of the Southern Military District, armed with S-400 systems, assumed combat duty in Crimea. These were the first S-400 systems deployed to the peninsula. Earlier reports said two battalions with S-400 systems would take up combat duty in Crimea in the beginning of 2018.

Earlier this week, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine continues provocations on the border near Crimea and Russia takes steps to ensure security of its territory, and this should not be viewed as a threat.

Russia’s S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is the latest long-range antiaircraft missile system that went into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and surface targets. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 30 kilometers. Deputy Commander of Russia’s Aerospace Force Viktor Gumenny said last April that Russia S-400 air defense systems had begun receiving missiles capable of destroying targets in the near space.</s>Russia has deployed a new unit armed with the advanced S-400 air-defense system in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Russian media are reporting.

Russian state media reported on January 13 that Moscow had deployed the new division outside the city of Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based.

It is the second S-400-equipped division deployed to Crimea, after Moscow based one near the northern port town of Fedosia in early 2017.

The S-400 is capable of striking airborne targets up to 400 kilometers away and ballistic missiles up to 60 kilometers distant.

Russia annexed the Ukrainian region in March 2014, prompting the United States, the European Union, and others to impose economic sanctions against Moscow.

Based on reporting by Reuters, RIA Novosti, and TASS</s>A second unit equipped with the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft system has assumed combat duty in Russia’s Crimean peninsula. As of now, the region is fully covered with the most advanced surface-to-air missile system.

The 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, deployed on the Black Sea shoreline south of the city of Sevastopol, became fully operational on Saturday.

“As of today, the whole air defense of Crimea is equipped with the most modern S-400 surface-to-air missile system unmatched in the world,” the Air Force and Air Defense Fourth Army commander Lieutenant General Viktor Sevostyanov said during the regiment deployment ceremony.

Last year, the 18th Guard Anti-Aircraft Missile Sevastopol-Feodosia Regiment became the first unit in Crimea to receive the cutting-edge S-400 system. The 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment received the modern systems some time ago and the crews have been training to operate them. The detachment has been previously equipped with older, yet reliable, S-300 systems.

“The S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system can engage almost all existing targets, including the ones under development, the hypersonic ones. This system also reliably protects from ballistic targets. This complex has larger range; a large part of the Krasnodar region will be also shielded,” Sevostyanov said.

The S-400 anti-aircraft system is designed to engage aerodynamic targets at a range of up to 400km and ballistic missiles up to 60km away. The system can use at least four interceptor missile types suited to different targets. An S-400 unit can engage up to 36 targets simultaneously.

The complex was adopted by the Russian military back in 2007 and began replacing older systems. Over the past five years, 16 anti-aircraft regiments have been equipped with the S-400 systems, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said last December.

The importance of strengthening Russia’s defenses in Crimea was stressed by Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week. “We know that both provocations and subversive activities continue on the Russian-Ukrainian border near Crimea,” Peskov said, while commenting on the S-400 deployment. “That’s why Russia’s adoption of all the necessary measures to protect its security should not be viewed as a threat to anyone. This should be perceived as ensuring its own security.”</s>The relevant order was handed over by the commander of the 4th Air and Air Defense Army, Lt. Gen. Viktor Sevostyanov, to a commander of the air defense regiment.

The S-400 battalion has been deployed and started monitoring the airspace.

According to Sevostyanov, the deployment of forces would contribute to the security of Crimea and the major part of the Krasnodar Territory, after the first battalion of the advanced missile systems was deployed near the city of Feodosia in January 2017.

The S-400 systems put on combat duty in 2018 would primarily protect the airspace over the border with Ukraine, a Crimean security source told Sputnik.

Commenting on the deployment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Russia's taking measures to ensure its security should not be perceived as a threat to anyone.

READ MORE: S-400 Deployment in Crimea Aiming to Ensure Russia's Security — Kremlin

The deployment was announced in wake of the USS Carney Tomahawk-cruise capable destroyer arrival in Ukraine's port of Odessa, situated less than 200 km away from Russia's Crimea, and about 300 km from Sevastopol, home base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The visit was the first by a NATO vessel in 2018, and is expected to last until January 11.

S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler) is Russia's most advanced surface-to-air missile system that has a range of 400 kilometers (248 miles) and is capable of tracking and destroying all existing aerial targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.</s>A second unit equipped with the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft system has assumed combat duty in Russia's Crimean peninsula. As of now, the region is fully covered with the most advanced surface-to-air missile system.The 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, deployed on the Black Sea shoreline south of the city of Sevastopol, became fully operational on Saturday.Last year, the 18th Guard Anti-Aircraft Missile Sevastopol-Feodosia Regiment became the first unit in Crimea to receive the cutting-edge S-400 system. The 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment received the modern systems some time ago and the crews have been training to operate them. The detachment has been previously equipped with older, yet reliable, S-300 systems.Sevostyanov said.The complex was adopted by the Russian military back in 2007 and began replacing older systems. Over the past five years, 16 anti-aircraft regiments have been equipped with the S-400 systems, Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said last December.The importance of strengthening Russia's defenses in Crimea was stressed by Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier this week. "We know that both provocations and subversive activities continue on the Russian-Ukrainian border near Crimea," Peskov said, while commenting on the S-400 deployment. "That's why Russia's adoption of all the necessary measures to protect its security should not be viewed as a threat to anyone. This should be perceived as ensuring its own security."</s>SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) - The second battalion of S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems was put on combat duty in Russia's southwestern the Crimean Peninsula near the city of Sevastopol, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday.</s>Russia deployed a new division of S-400 surface-to-air missiles in Crimea (Reuters)</s>Russia deployed a new division of S-400 surface-to-air missiles in Crimea on Saturday (January 13), Russian news agencies reported, in an escalation of military tensions on the Crimean peninsula.



Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, triggering economic sanctions by the European Union and the United States and a tense stand-off in the region.



The US said in December that it planned to provide Ukraine with "enhanced defensive capabilities", which officials said included Javelin anti-tank missiles.



Moscow's latest deployment represents the second division armed with S-400 air defence systems on the peninsula, after the first in the spring of 2017 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 quoted Viktor Sevostyanov, a commander with Russia's air forces, as saying.



Russia's defence ministry says the S-400 systems, known as "Triumph", can bring down airborne targets at a range of 400 kilometres and ballistic missiles at a range of 60 kilometres. They were first introduced to the Russian military's arsenal in 2007, the ministry added.</s>As the US prepares fresh sanctions for alleged US election meddling, Russia deploys a new division of surface-to-air missiles in Crimea, in an escalation of military tensions on the peninsula.

Russia has deployed a new division of S-400 surface-to-air missiles in Crimea, Russian news agencies reported, in an escalation of military tensions on the Crimean peninsula.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, triggering economic sanctions by the European Union and United States and a tense stand-off in the region.

The US said in December it planned to provide Ukraine with "enhanced defensive capabilities", including Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Washington is expected to impose fresh sanctions against Moscow next month for alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential vote, further straining relations between the two superpowers.

Moscow's latest deployment represents the second division armed with S-400 air defence systems on the peninsula, after the first was deployed in the spring of 2017 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 quoted Viktor Sevostyanov, a commander with Russia's air forces, as saying.

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

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

Russia braces for new US sanctions

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told local media the expected US sanctions, which may be imposed as soon as early February, are an attempt to influence Russia's domestic affairs.

Russia will hold its next presidential vote on March 18 when President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win another six-year stint.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the 2016 US elections that put Donald Trump in power.

Mr Ryabkov told Tass news agency he expects the United States to present two anti-Russian reports with the sanctions.

One of the reports would likely extend the number of Russian officials and companies on the sanctions list, while the other would analyse whether sanctions so far have proved to be effective, Mr Ryabkov said.

After the first round of sanctions in 2014 for annexing Crimea, Russia retaliated by banning food imports from signatory countries.

In August last year, Mr Trump grudgingly signed into law a new package of sanctions that Congress had overwhelmingly approved, which also limited Mr Trump's own ability to lift any sanctions against Russia.

He criticised the legislation as having "clearly unconstitutional" elements.

In turn Russia expelled 755 American diplomats and seized two US diplomatic properties.

The new round of US sanctions could possibly include a ban on the purchase of Russian treasury bonds.</s>The S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems were put on combat duty near the city of Sevastopol, close to the scene of the ongoing civil war in Ukraine. S-400, also known by its NATO codename of SA-21 "Growler", has been described by military expert Scott Wolff as "the most capable and lethal long-range air defence missile system on the planet".

It is capable of destroying airborne targets as far as 250 miles away, and has been used by the Russians as part of their battle against ISIS in Syria. Green-lighting the missile battalion in the contested region of Crimea, Russian commander Lt Gen Viktor Sevostyanov told local media the deployment was for the security of Crimea.

“The most capable and lethal long-range air defence missile system on the planet” Local security sources said the lethal missiles were primarily to protect the airspace over Russia's border with Ukraine. The news comes as the USS Carney — an American destroyer capable of launching Tomahawk missiles — arrived in the Ukrainian port of Odessa, under 200 miles from Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.

It comes as Russia stepped up its military training with thousands of troops simulating attacks in mass army drills. And a top military commander warned that Russia was simulating a full-scale war with NATO in preparation.

This week there was a warning that the UK's Trident nuclear missiles could be turned on Britain in a devastating cyber attack.
Russia deploys a second anti-air S-400 missile battalion in Crimea.