Russian submarine passes through NATO anti-submarine exercise area

Russian media reported that NATO member countries mobilized six warships, 10 aircraft and several submarines earlier last week to participate in the annual anti-submarine exercise Dynamic Mongoose, scheduled to last until July 14 in the waters north of Norway.

While NATO exercises are underway, the Russian Northern Fleet submarine Vladikavkaz departed from Polyarny on the Kola Peninsula and is now en route to St. Petersburg to take part in Moscow's annual naval parade.

According to a Northern Fleet spokesman, the Vladikavkaz will move in a surfaced state and will conduct rescue exercises while moving through the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea, where NATO warships are exercising.

In late 2018, Russia also sent a Tu-142 anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft to fly close to the US warship USS Mount Whitney while it was participating in the Trident Juncture exercise in the Barents Sea off Norway.

NATO has recently been expanding its presence to the East with exercises and sending forces close to Russia's borders. Russia has repeatedly criticized the bloc's moves, saying they could threaten regional stability and warning of a corresponding response.