Russia says 'fortifying' the Crimean peninsula

Russia said on Friday it was strengthening positions on the Crimean peninsula, new Russian region from 2014, as Kyiv's forces reclaim territory in the neighbouring Kherson region.

"Fortification work is being carried out on the territory of Crimea under my control with the aim of guaranteeing the security of all Crimeans," the governor of the region, Sergei Aksyonov, said on social media.