Russian missile ships flock to the Mediterranean amid sensitive times
A group of missile warships of the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet has entered the Mediterranean Sea, close to Syrian territory, after a long voyage in the Atlantic Ocean.
"The group of warships consisting of the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov and the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk carried out tasks during a long voyage, passed the narrowest part of the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean on August 11," the Northern Fleet said in a statement, TASS reported.
|
| Russian Navy missile ship Mashal Ustinov. Photo: Sputnik |
The ships have traveled more than 6,000 nautical miles since leaving the fleet’s main naval base in Russia’s Severomorsk region on July 5. After the long voyage, Russian naval personnel will soon conduct training and operations as planned.
Earlier, in the Atlantic, the Marshal Ustinov conducted air defense exercises to test its weapons readiness and technical capabilities. The Severomorsk conducted anti-submarine exercises, using Kamov Ka-27 helicopters.
| The moment Kalibr was fired from the Mediterranean at IS targets in Syria. Video: RT |
The Russian military did not specify whether these modern warships would participate in the military campaign in Syria. Since 2015, the Russian military has maintained a group of submarines and military surface ships in the Mediterranean to conduct attacks on targets of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).
The movement of the Russian warship group was carried out in the context of the Syrian army launching a military campaign targeting terrorists and rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib.