13 Jan 2014 20:05

Russian warship to conduct drills before reaching Mediterranean

MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The large amphibious assault ship, the Azov, of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has left Sevastopol and set out for a long-distance cruise to the Mediterranean.

"The cruise is part of the rotation plan for the Russia Navy's permanent inter-fleet task force fulfilling a mission in this region. On its way to the Mediterranean the crew will conduct a series of winter drills," Black Sea Fleet spokesman, Captain First Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachev told Interfax-AVN.

About ten ships of the Black, Northern and Baltic fleets are fulfilling tasks in the Mediterranean now, he said.