Russian Navy reconnaissance ship deployed off Syria
ST. PETERSBURG. June 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Navy's Mediterranean squadron has been joined by the Vasily Tatishchev reconnaissance ship, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax-AVN on Monday.
"Starting in the middle of June the Vasily Tatishchev medium reconnaissance ship will be fulfilling tasks as part of the Navy's permanent task force in the Mediterranean Sea," the source said.
The Tatishchev reconnaissance ship is replacing its Black Sea Fleet equivalent, the Kildin, the source said.
"Last Saturday the Kildin traversed the Black Sea straits and returned to the Black Sea. It was deployed off Syria for over 100 days," the source said.
It was reported that on April 27 the Black Sea Fleet's medium intelligence collecting ship Liman sank near the entrance to the Bosporus Strait after colliding with a commercial vessel. The crew were not hurt in the incident.
Currently, the permanent naval force in the Mediterranean Sea comprises, in particular, the Black Sea Fleet's new Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen frigates and the Krasnodar submarine armed with Kalibr cruise missiles. These have twice been launched against Islamic State (a terrorist organization, banned in Russia) targets in Syria.
It was reported that the international notification of possible missile launches from the Mediterranean Sea is in place until June 30.
