Interfax reported Monday that the Russian Black Sea Fleet's aviation division conducted combat drills to destroy unmanned targets at sea and in the air over Black Sea.

The agency quoted the ministry to say that "the combat mission tasks were performed in the darkness, at various altitudes, and included crews ascending into the stratosphere up to an altitude over 13,000 meters (eight miles)".

Interfax reported that the navy assault aviation regiment, as well as the air defence of Black Sea Fleet, were involved in these drills. They used the Sukhoi Su-30SM two-seat, twin-engine supermaneuverable combat aircraft.

Intefax said that the Su-30M was designed to achieve air superiority and destroy targets on land, air and sea, even at night or in adverse weather conditions.

The war in Ukraine has stretched Russia's military on land and at sea over the last two-and-ahalf years.

The Ukrainian Navy, despite its vastly inferior firepower in comparison to the Black Sea Fleet whose main base is in Sevastopol, on the Crimean Peninsula, has managed to deliver a devastating blow against the Black Sea Fleet.

(source: Reuters)