Russia's Defense Ministry announced that a naval, land and air military exercise is underway over the Black Sea.

Iran PressEurope: Russia's Defense Ministry on Thursday in a report referring to the two-day military exercise said: 

The exercise took place off the coast of the Crimean peninsula and involved missile units equipped with  'Bal' missile systems.

This military drill included Sukhoi-24M bombers and Sukhoi-30 SM fighter jets, which are based at a Russian naval base on the Black Sea, they bombed and destroyed mock enemy's targets.

Relations between Russia and NATO have been strained since 2014 when a pro-Western government took office in Ukraine.

NATO holds several exercises each year in neighboring Russia, including the Black Sea and the Baltic, to which Russia responds. 219