VLADIVOSTOK, December 1. /TASS/. Russian Pacific Fleet warships will take part in seven international drills in a new training year that has begun on Thursday, fleet spokesman Captain 2nd Rank Vladimir Matveyev told TASS.

The Pacific Fleet ships will also join the second research expedition to the Kuril Island of Matua and visit several foreign ports, the spokesman said.

"Today, solemn ceremonies have been held in Pacific Fleet formations and military units devoted to the beginning of a new training year in the Russian Armed Forces," the spokesman said.

"The Pacific Fleet is expected to take part in seven international drills. As of today, preparations are nearing completion to participate in the Indra Navy-2016 Russian-Indian drills that will be held in December this year in the port of Visakhapatnam (India) and in the Indian Ocean," Matveyev said.

As a whole, the Russian Pacific Fleet is expected to carry out an intensive combat training program that will be based on the personnel’s naval, field and flight drills. The Pacific Fleet ships will continue performing missions in various areas of the World Ocean and make business calls at foreign ports, the spokesman said.

Currently, the large antisubmarine warfare ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev and the large sea tanker Boris Butoma are performing assigned tasks at sea, he added.

Also, from June to September, Pacific Fleet personnel will participate in the second research expedition that will be organized by the Defense Ministry and the Russian Geographical Society to the Island of Matua. Now work is under way to draw up a detailed plan of the island’s exploration and the equipment required for the research.

Also, two international contests for naval and field skills, the Cup of Sea and Amphibious Assault, will be held at the Pacific Fleet in 2017 as part of International Army Games, the fleet spokesman said.