Russia sends frigate equipped with cruise missiles to the Mediterranean
(Baonghean.vn) - According to the announcement of the Russian Ministry of Defense, on November 5, the country deployed a new frigate equipped with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles to the Mediterranean, just a few months after Moscow reinforced its naval forces off the coast of Syria.
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| Admiral Makarov frigate. Photo: AP |
The announcement stated: "The Admiral Makarov frigate of the Black Sea Fleet has left (the military port of) Sevastopol and is following a pre-planned route through the straits of the Black Sea. This ship is part of the permanent naval force of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean."
The announcement did not say whether the frigate would participate in military operations in Syria.
In the past, Russia has launched Kalibr cruise missiles from frigates and submarines stationed in the Mediterranean against military targets in support of the Syrian army's counteroffensive.
Last May, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian military ships equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles would be on permanent duty in the Mediterranean to counter what he saw as a terrorist threat in Syria.
This summer, Russia also deployed several warships to the Mediterranean, including the Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Essen and Pytlivy frigates, along with the landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov and the missile corvette Vishny Volochek.
In August, Izvestia reported that Russia had assembled its largest naval group in the Mediterranean since 2015, consisting of 10 ships, most of them equipped with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles. Two submarines were also deployed.
