Russia Deploys S-400 Missile Defense System in Crimea

As tensions escalate between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense has announced the deployment of the advanced S-400 missile defense system in Crimea. According to Reuters, reports of the deployment come after Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, promised to respond to Ukraine's recent actions in Crimea on Thursday. On Wednesday, Russia accused Ukraine of planning terrorist operations and armed attacks in Crimea, which Ukraine has denied. Meanwhile, the White House announced that Joe Biden, the U.S. Vice President, called for restraint from both parties during phone conversations with Russian and Ukrainian officials. The White House added that Biden spoke with Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, on Friday and urged him to prevent escalating tensions with Russia. The latest round of tensions between Russia and Ukraine began on Wednesday following a statement from the Russian Federal Security Service, which claimed to have thwarted a 'terrorist attack' in Crimea that had been executed by the Ukrainian armed forces' security section days earlier, and that they had defeated their armed assault. The Federal Security Service emphasized that during the armed clash to apprehend the assailants, one of its officers was killed, and a Russian soldier was also killed in subsequent clashes. In response to this event, Vladimir Putin angrily accused Ukraine of 'resorting to terrorism' and promised to punish those responsible for the deaths of Russian personnel. In contrast, Petro Poroshenko denied Russia's claims, calling them 'fantasy and an excuse for future military threats against Ukraine.' He also ordered the Ukrainian armed forces to be put on high alert. Russia annexed Crimea in early 2014 in response to the ousting of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych due to public protests in Kyiv. Shortly after the annexation, an armed insurgency by pro-Russian separatists began in two eastern regions of Ukraine. Ukraine has consistently accused the Russian government of escalating the conflict by sending weapons and troops to assist the insurgents, although Russia has denied these allegations.