MURMANSK, September 20. /TASS/. Russia’s Northern Fleet has begun a large-scale exercise involving combined forces.

"At various phases of the wargames twelve surface ships, nuclear and diesel submarines and ten logistics ships will be used," the fleet’s press-service has said. Various types of aircraft will fly about 20 sorties."

Taking part in the exercise will be coastal missile and artillery units, army aviation, the Northern Fleet’s air defenses and logistics units.

The exercises are expected to evaluate staff officers’ skills in controlling subordinate forces and test compliance with rules and norms. There will be various combat drills and firing practices.

At the moment the preparatory phase of the exercise is underway. The fleet’s forces will practice alerts and get their staffs and forces ready to perform the assigned tasks. The heavy missile cruiser The Pyotr Veliky and destroyer The Admiral Ushakov have dropped anchor in the Kola Bay.

The exercise in the Barents Sea will last till the end of the week.