MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. The Varyag missile cruiser and the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate of the Pacific fleet will cross the Atlantic Ocean and call at seaports of friendly Latin American countries, a source close to the Navy told TASS.

"After a call at Tartus and operation in the permanent Russian Navy force in the Mediterranean, the group of Pacific fleet warships will sail to the Atlantic to call at seaports of friendly Latin American countries," the source said adding a tanker will accompany the warships during Atlantic crossing.

The Varyag cruiser sailed the Suez Canal a day before and entered the Mediterranean Sea. The Marshal Shaposhnikov for the first time called at Massawa on Eritrea’s Red Sea coast on March 28. The frigate is armed with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles capable of striking land targets.