VIDEO: Russia’s Slava-Class Cruisers Enter Mediterranean

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on developments in Ukraine and Russia and announces sanctions against Russia from the East Room of the White House Feb. 22, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The White House earlier in the day called Russia’s deployment of troops into two pro-Russian separatist regions of Ukraine “the beginnings of an invasion.” (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Russia’s Black Sea fleet has been carrying out exercises at the same time as guided missile cruisers move in the Mediterranean Sea to counter three NATO carrier strike groups in the region.

The show of force comes amid heightened tensions as Russian troops, tanks, other military equipment and supplies have moved into Donetsk and Luhansk, separatist regions of eastern Ukraine that Russia formally recognized as independent republics.