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Russian Black Sea Fleet to take part in three international war games this year

In November, the Smetlivy escort vessel of the Black Sea Fleet will present Russia in the Russian-Italian naval exercise Ioniex 2014

© ITAR-TASS / Alexei Pavlishak

MOSCOW, February 18. /ITAR-TASS/. In accordance with this year’s plans, naval ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet will take part in three international exercises and also in navy-related events at ports of Mediterranean states, fleet’s spokesman Vyacheslav Trukhachev told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

He said planned naval exercises of the Black Sea Naval Force (BlackSeaFor) would be held in April and in August, with Russia represented by guided missile air cushion ship Samum. In June-July, Fairway of Peace 2014 naval exercise of Russia and Ukraine will be held in Ukraine’s Sevastopol, the fleet’s principal base, with Ukraine assuming command on the rotating basis.

Besides, a naval ship of the Black Sea Fleet is to sail to the Mediterranean in autumn to take part in events of the “Russian Week on the Ionian Islands” international public forum and in celebrations marking the 187th anniversary of the Battle of Novara at the Greek port of Pylos.

In November, the Smetlivy escort vessel of the Black Sea Fleet will present Russia in the Russian-Italian naval exercise Ioniex 2014, held annually off the Italian coast.

“Along with international military cooperation events, Black Sea Fleet ships will practice tasks as part of a permanent unit of the Russian Navy deployed to the Mediterranean, while floating workshops of the Black Sea Fleet will continue their routine duty at the fleet’s naval maintenance centre at the port of Tartus (Syria),” Trukhachev said.

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