Global General

Russian Navy launches major exercises

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-30 23:48

MOSCOW - The Russian Navy has started its largest drills in recent years, aimed at "providing strategic and regional deterrence," a Navy spokesman said Tuesday.

The departure of the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliki (Peter the Great) from the Severomorsk port, main base of the Russian Northern Fleet, started the exercises Tuesday, said the spokesman.

Peter the Great will take part in the exercises together with warships, support vessels and naval aviation of the Northern, Baltic and Pacific fleets, he said.

Vice Admiral Nikolai Maximov, Russian Northern Fleet Commander, said at the sending-off ceremony the cruiser "would march in the far sea zone for no less than six months."

"During the exercises, it will carry out military exercises, port visits and joint exercises with our foreign military partners," Maximov said.

Peter the Great's last exercise lasted about six months, starting in September 2008, during which the cruiser conducted joint exercises with navy forces of countries including Venezuela and India.