U.S. Air Force (USAF) aircraft makes reconnaissance mission in Ukrainian airspace and near Crimea peninsula amid escalates conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

According to ItaMilRadar (monitoring military aircraft movements), USAF Northrop Grumman RQ-4B unmanned aircraft, from Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, conducted surveillance mission across southern and eastern Ukraine.

Also, Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint large reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. Air Force, from Souda Bay Air Base, making a similar mission over Black Sea off Crimea peninsula.

- ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW -

U.S. RC-135V Rivet Joint SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) aircraft from Souda Bay Air Base has monitored an activity of Russian Armed Forces at the disputed Crimea peninsula and the RQ-4B unmanned aircraft has checked situation at the territory controlled by pro-Russian and anti-government groups.

Russian and Ukrainian troops faced off in a tense stand-off at a key naval chokepoint off the disputed Crimea peninsula on Sunday, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of blocking the passage of three of its warships and after capturing them.

By that time Ukrainian armed forces have been placed on a full alert amid situation in the Kerch Strait and the attack on Ukrainian warships.

“Following the decision of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine concerning the implementation of the martial law, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has ordered to place the AFU units on full alert,” said in a statement of Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC ) of Ukraine under the chairmanship of President Petro Poroshenko approved the decision to offer the President of Ukraine the introduction of a martial law for a period of 60 days. The NSDC considers it necessary to introduce a special legal regime in Ukraine in order to create conditions for repelling armed aggression and ensuring national security, eliminating threats to independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.