NOVOROSSIYSK, April 25. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet’s coastal defense troops destroyed a notional enemy’s warships during drills on the Taman Peninsula in south Russia, firing Bal and Bastion missile systems and Bereg artillery guns, the press office of Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Command and staff exercises were held on the terrain where combat operations were practiced. The troops conducted operations at the long, medium and short engagement ranges," Commander of the Separate Coastal Defense Missile and Artillery Brigade Colonel Sergei Yablokov told journalists.

The troops employed Bastion missile systems at a long distance of over 150 km, Bal weapons at a medium distance of 50 to 150 km and Bereg artillery guns at a short range, the colonel specified.

The artillery troops were tasked to defend the Novorossiysk naval base. Under the drills’ scenario, a group of enemy warships was set the task of approaching the coast to land the assault force. The teams of the Bereg artillery systems prevented the assault force’s landing while Bal and Bastion complexes destroyed hostile warships by a missile strike, the Defense Ministry said.