The Defense Minister of Ukraine, Stepan Poltorak said in an interview with the «5 channel» that the AFU had been ready for a strike on the part of the Russian Federation at the time of the missile firings near the Crimea, held on December 1-2.

‘Of course, the Russian Federation was nervous, we were being intimidated by a response, we were being intimidated by the fact that there would be dealt a missile attack on our launchers, our positions. By the way, we were ready for this as well, we had worked out that option, too. But this (missile firing) is our business, this is business of independent Ukraine and the Armed Forces to conduct exercises on their territory. Without violating any international treaty and checking the readiness of our defense system,’ Poltorak said.

He emphasized that the missile firing near the Crimea would be ‘as regular as they are needed’.