VLADIVOSTOK, July 15. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian-Indian exercises, Indra 2014, have opened aboard Russia’s cruiser Varyag, the spokesman to Russia’s Pacific Fleet, Captain I Rank Roman Martov told ITAR-TASS.

The opening ceremony was attended by the admirals of both countries and the leaders of the exercises - deputy commander of the Pacific Fleet, Rear Admiral Andrei Ryabukhin and commander of the Indian Eastern Fleet, Rear Admiral Atul Kumar Jain. They reported on the readiness for the upcoming exercises and made a statement on their start.

The manoeuvres will last for six days. The active phase will take place in the Sea of Japan from July 17 to July 19. Navy sailors of both countries will conduct tactical manoeuvring. They will train the protection of ships in the roadstead and assistance to a ship in distress. The exercises are designed to maintain underwater, anti-air and anti-ship defence. The sailors are planning to deliver missile and artillery strikes on waterborne and aerial targets.

Earlier, Martov said, “India’s ships - the Ranvijay guided missile destroyer, the Shivalik frigate and the Shakti supply vessels - will arrive in Vladivostok on Monday for the Indra-2014 exercises.”

The Varyag cruiser, the Admiral Vinogradov large anti-submarine destroyer, the Peresvet amphibious warfare ship and support vessels will take part in the manoeuvres, he said.

The exercises will be aimed at training and promoting joint actions at sea, he said.

Russia’s Navy participation in the Indra exercises is one of the major events in international military cooperation.