Russia is increasing its presence in the Black Sea with a “quite unusual number of ships,” the Ukrainian military said Thursday, CNN reported.

Russian warships at a naval parade in St. Petersburg in the waters of the Gulf of FinlandPhoto: Oleksandr Demyanchuk / TASS / Profimedia

The increased number of ships, consisting of 21 units, may be aimed at a “demonstration of maritime dominance” after the downing of a US drone by a Russian fighter jet on Tuesday, the Southern Operational Command said in a Facebook post. Ukraine, formation of the country’s army.

The United States said it would take measures to prevent the drone from falling into the wrong hands.

“It is also not excluded that the search operation may be conducted by the Russians themselves,” the message added.

The United States, however, believes Russia has found the wreckage of a downed U.S. surveillance drone in the Black Sea, a U.S. official familiar with the situation told CNN.

The Military Committee stated that the strengthening of the Russian presence in the Black Sea also means an increase in the threat of missile strikes on Ukraine.

The ships could carry up to 32 Kalibr cruise missiles, the report said.

“Do not ignore air raid alarms,” ​​the Southern Operational Command warned.

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