Russia's Black Sea military exercises to include Caucasus coast landing operation
MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax-AVN) - Large assault ships of the Baltic Fleet are taking part in the ongoing military exercises aimed at assessing the Armed Forces' combat readiness in southern Russia, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.
"Two assault units, genuine and fake, have been formed in the Black Sea in the vicinity of Russia's Caucasus coast. They include large assault ships of the Black Sea and Baltic Fleets," the spokesman said.
The Black Sea Fleet's large assault ships Azov, Saratov, Novocherkassk and Nikolai Filchenko, as well as the Baltic Fleet's large assault ships Kaliningrad and Alexander Shabalin, currently present in Novorossiysk, will operate within these units, he said.
"The units will be protected by small anti-submarine ships of the Black Sea Fleet. The sea mine-sweepers Turbinist, Ivan Golubets, Vice Admiral Zakharyin and Valentin Pikul will be present in the area of the landing operation. The missile carrying motorboats R-60 and R-109 will provide support from the sea," the spokesman said.
Sukhoi Su-24 and Beriev Be-12 airplanes, as well as Kamov Ka-27 helicopters of the Navy's aviation force will fly reconnaissance missions and track down an imaginary adversary's submarines in this district, he said.
"Twenty or so warships and some 30 support vessels of the Black Sea Fleet are present in the sea at the moment," the spokesman said.
