Live-fire shooting exercises and approval air trials of surface-to-air missiles of medium and small ranges started in the state firing range Yahorlyk in Kherson region on November 1. They are being carried out within Ukraine's airspace only, in keeping with all the norms of international law.

"Live-fire shootings are being carried out exclusively in Ukraine's airspace, over an open sea, with strict adherence to all the norms of international law," the command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has written in a post on their page on Facebook.

As part of the arrangements for live shootings, the dimensions of the danger launch area in the northwestern part of the Black Sea area have been specified, as a result of which there are no threats. Also, all the risks have been calculated and all the safety measures have been taken to ensure that the actual phase of the firings is secure.

The airspace restriction zone was specified on a temporary basis (UKD-200 A, B, C). In addition, the timeframe and flying altitudes in which flights are banned have been announced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has been properly informed. Also, relevant requests and aviation alerts have been sent to Ukraerocenter.

"Any attempts to interfere with [the exercises] and accuse the Ukrainian party in creating threats against the population and infrastructure facilities in the area in which the live firings of surface-to-air cruise missiles are to be carried out can only be done for provocation purposes," the command said.

Crews of military aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, radio engineering troops, communications troops and unmanned aircraft units of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as air defense units of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, are involved in the exercises.

As part of the exercises, in order to acquire combat experience in the use of anti-aircraft missile systems and test the quality of restored ammunition, combat teams of the units involved have to work on practical tasks meant for combat (and simulated) launches of anti-aircraft cruise missiles using airborne targets — unmanned aerial vehicles.