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The Russian Navy fired hypersonic missiles during drills in the Mediterranean Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on December 3.
The live-fire drills came amid a large-scale offensive led by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in the northwest of Syria, Russia’s main access point to the Mediterranean Sea.
As a part of the drills, frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko fired Tsirkon hypersonic missiles, and the diesel-electric submarine Novorossiysk launched a Kalibr cruise missile at a naval target, the Russian MoD said in a statement, adding that a Bastion coastal missile system launched an Oniks cruise missile from a designated area on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
“All of the assigned targets were eliminated by direct hits,” the ministry continued.
The drills take place from 1 to 3 December 2024 according to the combat training plan of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation under supervision of Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev.
The ministry said that Russian forces were built up in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea to prepare for the live-fire drills.
“Groups of attack and anti-submarine all-arms forces that have been formed undergo missile, artillery, and torpedo live fires, as well as practically deploy bombs,” it added.
More than 1,000 troops, ten ships and support vessels, 24 aircraft, including the Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-31I fighter jets equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and Bastion coastal missile systems are involved in the drills, according to the ministry.
The live-fire drills were likely held to send a message of support to the Syrian government, as well as to warn regional powers attempting to take advantage of the recent escalation in the war-torn country, mainly Turkey, Israel and the United States.
Russian forces in Syria, mainly deployed along the coast, have been providing government forces with direct fire support since the start of the offensive.
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