General Staff: Russia Forms Naval Task Force in Mediterranean

21.12.2012 Russian Navy's interfleet task force will start performing joint tasks off Syria by the end of the year, reported press service of Russian General Staff.

"Task units of Northern and Baltic fleets are heading for East Mediterranean to join the task unit of Black Sea Fleet already deployed there. By the end of December, they will meet in the rendezvous point with the view to perform joint tasks near Syrian coast. Warships and auxiliary vessels will call at Russian Navy's maintenance base in Syrian port Tartus many times. Evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria is also possible in case of due order is given", the spokesman told Interfax.

"Ships of Black Sea Fleet are ready to head for the Mediterranean as well", he added.

The interviewee pointed out that the Russian naval ships would meet in the rendezvous point in the Mediterranean Sea for a short period. After joint drills, Northern Fleet's task unit will head for the Gulf of Aden through the Suez Canal to counter piracy.

As for the source, the Pacific Fleet task unit including destroyer Marshall Shaposhnikov, replenishment oiler Irkut, and salvage tug Alatau is currently deployed in the Indian Ocean near the Persian Gulf.

In its turn, the Black Sea Fleet task unit including missile cruiser Moskva, destroyer Smetlivy, replenishment oiler Ivan Bubnov, and seagoing tug MB-304 will return to home bases soon.