Russian warships flock to India for military exercises to "show off" Ukraine and NATO
Russian warships have arrived in India to participate in the Indra Navy 2018 military exercise with the host country's armed forces, according to Express.
The destroyer Admiral Pateleyev also took part in the exercise in India.
The Russian warships, including the Varyag missile cruiser, the Admiral Pateleyev destroyer, and the Boris Butoma tanker, all part of the Russian Pacific Fleet, have docked at Visakhapatnam in the eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Russian Pacific Fleet has confirmed that the ongoing exercises are aimed entirely at strengthening military ties between the two countries. The exercises will be aimed primarily at ensuring the safety of maritime and economic services at sea.
The exercise is scheduled to last for a week, from December 9 to December 16. This is the latest part of the exercise after the servicemen of Russia's Eastern Military District arrived in Uttar Pradesh to participate in the Indra-2018 exercise. The exercise in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, also lasted for a week, with the participation of 500 Russian and Indian soldiers. The military equipment for the exercise was prepared by the Indian side.
The Russian warships’ exercise in Andhra Pradesh comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine after Russia opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian warships in the Kerch Strait, accusing them of violating its territorial waters. Kiev has called for NATO support to counter Russia by sending warships to the Black Sea.
