Twenty Russian Baltic Fleet ships, vessels go out to sea for major drills

MOSCOW. Jan 24 (Interfax) - Twenty combat ships and vessels of the Russian Baltic Fleet have sailed out to sea to take part in a routine training exercise, the Baltic Fleet's press service said on Monday.

"Twenty combat ships, motorboats and support vessels of the Baltic Fleet have departed from their bases and are heading to designated areas of the Baltic Sea to tackle missions as part of a routine combat training exercise," the press service said.

"While at sea, the Baltic Fleet's ships forming several tactical groups will tackle their tasks as intended, including anti-submarine defense, air defense and mine countermeasures support, at the same time performing practical combat maneuvers," it said.

The tactical groups participating in the drills include minesweepers, small anti-submarine ships, small missile ships, and missile carrying motorboats, the press service said.

The Russian Baltic Fleet's ships have deployed to sea against the backdrop of NATO's statements that it is putting its forces on alert and is sending additional ships and fighter jets to Eastern Europe due to the Russian military buildup near the border with Ukraine.