MURMANSK, February 3. /TASS/. The Northern Fleet’s frigate Admiral Kasatonov made a business call at a Greek port under the program of its first long-distance deployment, the Fleet’s press office reported on Wednesday.

"The crew of the latest Russian combat ship, the frigate Admiral Kasatonov, accomplishing long-distance deployment tasks in the Mediterranean Sea has made a business call at the Greek port of Piraeus. The main goal of the Russian sailors’ business call at Piraeus is to replenish the ship’s supplies and also demonstrate the Russian naval flag," the press office said in a statement.

The Russian Navy frigate arrived at the Greek port together with the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker. The visit will last several days, following which the naval sailors will continue fulfilling assigned tasks in the Mediterranean Sea, including some military and diplomatic missions, and will also practice inter-operability with other Russian ships. The plan of the long-distance deployment stipulates business calls at other ports of Mediterranean countries. The Russian Navy sailors made their first business call at Algeria in North Africa, the statement says.

The frigate Admiral Kasatonov embarked on its long-distance deployment on December 30, 2020. Over this time, the warship has covered a distance of over 7,000 nautical miles. The frigates of this class are armed with a 130mm A-192 artillery gun, an anti-aircraft missile system and launchers for Oniks or Kalibr anti-ship missiles. These warships feature anti-submarine warfare armament and carry a Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare helicopter on their board.

The Admiral Kasatonov is a Russian Project 22350 guided missile frigate designated for operation in distant waters. The warship was built at the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg. It was laid down in 2010 and put afloat in 2014. In late 2018, the frigate entered shipbuilders’ sea trials. The frigate Admiral Kasatonov entered service with the Russian Navy on July 21, 2020.