Ex-commandos defended Russian vessel from pirates

28.09.2010 Guard security of a 15-man crewed Russian merchant ship opened cautionary fire on pirates this morning in Bab-el-Mandeb Strait; right after that pirates dropped pursuing the vessel, reports online Maritime Bulletin.

The shipborne guard consists of 4 ex-servicemen of Russian special forces who are veterans of Afghan and Chechen wars and have escort experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. All of them are residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The guarded commercial vessel heads for the Far East.