Over 600 Russian troops have been deployed to military exercises in the Crimea, the official Russian RIA news agency reported today (Tuesday). This is just one day prior to the meeting in Minsk between Ukrainian, Russian, French and German leaders where they will discuss ways to end the conflict in the eastern Ukraine, Reuters reports.
According to the RIA, the Russian Black Sea Fleet announced they were using approximately 50 units of weaponry in the exercises, which have begun with coastal defense units in the region.