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Two Russian cruise missile-armed ships to hold exercise in the Mediterranean

The Serpukhov and The Zelyony Dol are armed with the Kalibr cruise missiles
Onboard the Serpukhov Alexey Pavlishak/TASS
Onboard the Serpukhov
© Alexey Pavlishak/TASS

MOSCOW, August 11. /TASS/. Two newest ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet armed with the Kalibr cruise missiles will begin an exercise in the eastern part of the Mediterranean in several days’ time. In part, they will conduct artillery and missile firing practice, the Russian Defense Ministry has told the media.

"Starting from August 15, 2016 a naval group will begin a tactical exercise in the eastern part of the Mediterranean. The group includes two newest missile-carrying ships The Serpukhov and The Zelyony Dol. Several logistic ships will be involved," runs an official statement obtained by TASS.

The Defense Ministry said the exercise is expected "to test the ability of naval forces to act in resolving terrorist threats-related crises."

In cooperation with the task force permanently present in the Mediterranean The Serpukhov and The Zelyony Dol will practice communication procedures, assistance to a ship damaged by an attack of hypothetical terrorists and interception of a ship carrying "militants," The Defense Ministry said.

Also, Black Sea Fleet ships will conduct "artillery and missile firing practice in conditions approximating real combat operations." The Serpukhov and The Zelyony Dol have already left Sevastopol. They are expected to return to base late August.

Earlier reports said that four ships - The Tatarstan, the Dagestan, the Grad Sviyazhsk and the Veliki Ustyug - will carry out missile and artillery exercises in the southwest of the Caspian on August 15-20. The plan for the exercise envisages tests of the naval personnel’s ability to act in critical situations posing threats to Russia’s military security, including threats of terrorist nature," the Defense Ministry said. The Dagestan, the Grade Sviyazhsk and the Veliki Ustyug carry the cruise missile complex Kalibr. They participated in dealing strikes against terrorist in Syria in the autumn of 2015.