Cruiser Moskva heads for Russian-Chinese exercise area in Mediterranean

The flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, missile cruiser The Moskva, has left for the area of the joint Russian-Chinese exercise in the Mediterranean, the fleet’s spokesman, Captain 1st class Vyacheslav Trukhachev has said.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s flagship - The Moskva missile cruiser - has left Sevastopol to set course towards the Black Sea straits. In the Mediterranean it will team up with other ships of the fleet for a joint Russian-Chinese naval exercise," he said.

The active phase of the exercise will be held on May 17-21. The naval practices began with a special ceremony on May 11.

Nine ships are taking part. China has dispatched two frigates: The Linyi and The Weifang, and an auxiliary ship. Apart from The Moskva cruiser Russia has delegated the patrol ship The Ladny, two amphibious assault ships The Aleksandr Otrakovsky and The Aleksandr Shabalin, the missile carrying hovercraft The Samum and a salvage tug.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Joint Sea-2015 exercise will enhance bilateral cooperation and better joint resistance to threats to maritime security.