MOSCOW — Russia has been preparing for major naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean.Officials said the Russian Navy has sent at least 12 warships for exercises in the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Aden in January. They said the exercises would include demonstrations of anti-submarine and air defense operations near the coast of Syria.
“The Russian Navy’s drills of this scope will be held for the first time over the past few decades and are designed to improve control, ensure and practice multi-service force interaction of the fleets in the far-off maritime zones,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Jan. 2.
The ministry said the Russian warships were headed for the exercise areas in the Mediterranean and Black seas. The statement said the exercises would seek to enhance marine landing skills as well as other combat missions. “This will seek to practice the issues of establishing a multi-service grouping of forces outside Russia, planning its use and conducting joint actions as part of a united naval grouping based on a common plan,” the ministry said.
