Ukraine insists that the aggressor state is striving in any way to prevent the Crimea from returning to Ukraine's jurisdiction, to counterbalance the US and NATO efforts on the eastern flank of the Alliance

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces released a map, which reveals the current location of Russian combat jets, stationed at the airfields in southern and western Russia. The respective image was uploaded on the General Staff's Facebook page.

Spokesman of the General Staff Vadym Skybitsky explained that the image is supposed to show the possible extent of Russian military aggression in the Azov and the Black Sea region. 'The purpose of Russia's military aggression is to establish full control over the Black Sea to influence the countries of the region. The aggressor-state is striving in any way to prevent the Crimea from returning to Ukraine's jurisdiction, to counterbalance the US and NATO efforts on the eastern flank of the Alliance and expand its military presence in the Mediterranean', he said.

Judging by the map and the technical specifications of the jets, some of the planes can reach Ukraine's western borders.

The explanatory note says that the current total of Russia's combat aircraft located along Ukraine's borders makes about 500 fighters and ground attack aircraft and 340 helicopters.

The map clearly shows that the flight range of Russia's modern fighters Sukhoi Su-30 and Su-35 reaches the western regions of Ukraine. Sukhoi Su-25s, the ground attack aircraft are capable of reaching the country's central regions.

As is known, on November 25, the Russian naval group attacked the vessels of the Ukrainian Navy in Kerch Strait, as they were en route from Mariupol to Odesa. A tugboat and two small gunboats took fire and were immobilized. Russian Spetsnaz captured 24 Ukrainian sailors aboard the vessels. Six of them were wounded in the attack. The Ukrainian servicemen did not return fire.

The captured sailors were taken to a detention facility in the occupied Crimea. The Russian prosecutors charged them with 'illegal entry into the Russian territorial waters'. The Ukrainians deny any guilt, saying they obeyed their command's orders.

Ukraine and a number of foreign governments demand to release the sailors, describing Russia's actions in the Kerch Strait as the act of military aggression.