Russia's Sole Aircraft Carrier Starts Campaign in Mediterranean Sea

The Russian Northern Fleet has sent a group of warships, headed by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying cruiser, to the Mediterranean.

Photo: russianpulse.ru

On Saturday at 3:00 pm local time, a naval aircraft carrier group, which includes the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft cruiser and the Pyotr Velikiy nuclear-powered battle cruiser, has begun its campaign in the north-eastern areas of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, the press service of the Russian Northern Fleet reported.

The Severomorsk and the Vice Admiral Kulakov large antisubmarine ships, as well as support vessels also became a part of the naval group.

“In line with the training plan of Russia’s Navy on October 15 at 15:00 local time [12:00 GMT] a naval aircraft carrier group of the Northern Fleet started a cruise to the areas of the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying cruiser, the Pyotr Velikiy heavy nuclear missile cruiser, anti-submarine warships the Vice Admiral Kulakov and the Severomorsk, as well as supply vessels comprise the naval group,” the statement said.

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According to the press service, the goal of the campaign is ensuring a naval presence in operationally important areas of the World Ocean. As the statement revealed, special attention will be paid to ensuring safety of maritime navigation and other maritime economic activities of the Russian Federation, as well as to responding to new types of modern threats such as piracy and international terrorism.

The press service also noted that crews of the group will train coordination, maritime skills, as well as will practice joint actions of aircraft and warships.

“A few days ago, the crews of the ships of the aircraft carrier group completed planned preparations for the long campaign at the combat training ranges of the Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea,” the Interfax news agency reported, citing the Northern Fleet.

Photos of the ships during the preparations were published online.