Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — The Russian Navy has completed preparations of a major
exercise along the coast of Syria.

Officials said the Russian Navy has sent a fleet to the eastern
Mediterranean Sea for a major exercise in mid-January. They said the
four-day exercise would include combat and logistics vessels.

“A tactical group of Black Sea Fleet warships headed by the cruiser
Moskva will undertake exercises in the eastern sector of the Mediterranean Sea,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. “The tanker Ivan Bubnov has fueled the ships and emergency drills have been carried out. On Jan. 10 the tanker filled its fuel and water tanks and food stores at the Cyprus port of Larnaca.”

In a statement on Jan. 11, the ministry said the exercise would include
ships from the Russian Navy’s Black Sea and Baltic fleets. The statement did not say whether Syria would participate in the exercise, which would include night operations. Russia operates a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartous.

The Defense Ministry said two vessels of the Baltic fleet, Yaroslav
Mudry, patrol vessel, and Lena, a tanker, would dock in Malta for a rest
stop. The statement said the two ships would then head to the eastern
eastern Mediterranean for anti-submarine and evacuation drills.

Another vessel, the Severomorsk, a frigate, would visit Greece. The
ministry said Severomorsk would continue to the Gulf of Aden for an
anti-piracy mission scheduled to begin on Jan. 14.

“Russian Naval Infantry soldiers will visit a NATO training center to
get additional training,” the ministry said.

  Baltic Fleet, Black Sea fleet, Gulf of Aden, Larnaca, Mediterranean, Russian warships arrive for major exercise off coast of Syria