Oleksandr Turchynov: Restoration of the air defense system is a strategic task for Ukraine

Restoration of the air defense system is a strategic task for Ukraine, and an important step to revive it was done during the military exercises, which took place recently in the south of our country. This was stated by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov in an interview with "LigaBusinessInform" information agency.

"These exercises caused hysteria in Moscow. They began to threaten that if we carried out a single launch, they would fire our launching platforms and shoot down our missiles. It was essential for us not only to conduct these exercises but also to show that we were not going to draw back due to reasonless Russian ultimatums", - Mr. Turchynov underlined. At the same time, Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine stressed that Ukraine conducted the military exercises in its territory and in its air and maritime space.

"And Moscow had no grounds for its ultimatums", - he said reminding that the ultimatum was about the intentions to attack Ukrainian launching platforms in case even our single missile was launched. According to Oleksandr Turchynov, it was actually a threat to unleash military actions against Ukraine attacking our positions in the Kherson region.

"All their attempts to interfere, to stop us in this way will be ineffective. We conducted the exercises successfully and will further carry out them in such a way, - Mr. Turchynov noted - It is clear that they did not realize their threats because otherwise it would have been Russia's overt attach on Ukraine, and it would no longer be possible to hide behind the hybrid war format".