CRI听力:US Leads Fresh Military Drills in Ukraine

A US-led multinational military drill is underway in western Ukraine, near the border with Poland.

The exercise called Rapid Trident involves more than 1,800 soldiers from 18 countries, most of them NATO members, and will last until the end of July.

The drill is taking place at the request of the Ukrainian government at a time when the situation in the country's east remains tense.

The immediate aim is to bolster the morale of Ukrainian forces involved in the ongoing 15-month conflict with militants in eastern Ukraine.

MP Platoon Leader Hannah Martins says the conflict adds realism to the war games.

"Well, the fact that there is actually very real fighting going on in the east of Ukraine really galvanizes the mission that we are doing, really makes it relevant. It really adds some realism to training to know that some of these Ukrainian forces just came back from there or just about to go there. So, it really adds realism."

Russia has quickly condemned the exercises as a threat to an already shaky five-month ceasefire deal that aims to end the Ukraine conflict, and Moscow has warned of "explosive consequences" .

Shortly after the Rapid Trident drills began, the Russian navy announced that one of its warships stationed off the Crimean peninsula would conduct live rocket fire drills Sunday as Russia marks its annual Navy Day.

A Black Sea Fleet spokesman says more than 30 naval vessels and another 30 jets and military helicopters would show off their abilities near the Crimean port of Sevastopol.