Russian Navy starts drills in Black, Mediterranean Seas

MOSCOW - The Russian Navy has started major military drills in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, the Defense Ministry said Saturday.

The exercises, under the supervision of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, involve eight major warships from the Black Sea, Baltic and North Fleets, a spokesperson with the ministry told local media.

As the largest war games in a decade, the maneuvers were aimed at checking the readiness of military command and the inter-fleet forces to fulfill missions in distant waters, according to the ministry.

Besides a guard missile-carrying cruiser, an anti-sub ship and some support ships, the drills also involve long-range aviation and the fourth Air Force/Air Defense command, the Interfax news agency quoted the spokesperson as saying.

The drills will last until January 29. Russian sailors will conduct over 60 training missions including missile and artillery shooting exercises, said the ministry.