MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Ships of the Black Sea Fleet will practice defending the coastline and naval bases on the Crimean peninsula in drills, the fleet’s press office reported on Saturday.
“Ships and coastal defense troops of the Black Sea Fleet departed from Sevastopol and Novorossiysk for combat training fields during the initial stage of exercises under the command of the commander of the Sea Fleet Noire, Admiral Igor Osipov,” the press office said in a statement.
During the exercises, the participating forces will practice defending the coastline of the Crimean Peninsula, naval bases of the Black Sea Fleet, economic facilities, sea lanes and maritime economic activity zones against threats military potential of a hypothetical enemy, the press office said.
“At various stages of the exercises, naval groups, coastal defense forces and naval aircraft will conduct a series of missile and artillery fires and carry out missile and bombardment strikes against naval, coastal and air targets,” says the press release.
More than 30 combat ships of various classes from the Black Sea Fleet and other fleets are involved in the exercises as part of combined arms task forces, naval strike groups and amphibious assault ship detachments. Participating warships include frigates, guard ships, corvettes and missile boats, amphibious assault ships, small anti-submarine warfare vessels and mine countermeasures vessels, a informed the press office.
The exercises of naval operational forces, naval aviation and coastal defense troops of the Black Sea Fleet are taking place as part of the preparations for massive maneuvers under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov. In total, the Russian Navy exercises will bring together more than 140 combat and support ships, more than 60 aircraft, 1,000 military equipment and around 10,000 troops.
