Russian Black Sea Fleet's reconnaissance ship monitoring Turkish Navy Deniz Yildizi exercises - source
MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The command of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is closely following the Turkish Navy's Deniz Yildizi 2016 (Sea Star 2016) exercises, which began in the Black Sea on Monday, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.
"The Black Sea Fleet's medium-class reconnaissance ship Ekvator is present in the vicinity of the district where the Turkish Navy is holding its exercises. One of its tasks is to monitor the course of the Turkish Navy's maneuvers," the source said.
The information available indicates that the Deniz Yildizi 2016 exercises involve nine ships and submarines of Turkey's Navy. The Turkish ships are expected to make simultaneous port calls in Varna, Constanta, Odesa and Batumi as part of the maneuvers.
According to the Turkish Navy's website, during the maneuvers the ships will also "conduct live-fire exercises against high-velocity aerial and surface targets."
The Turkish Navy's maneuvers will continue until April 5.