Moscow. April 27. INTERFAX-The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Guards missile cruiser "Moscow", has entered the Black Sea on the background of sending a US patrol ship to the region.
"In several sea ranges in the Black Sea, the crew will conduct a complex of ship combat exercises and joint maneuvers with ships of the Black Sea Fleet and helicopters of Naval aviation and air defense," the press service of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation reported.
"During the practical actions, the crew of the GRKR "Moscow" will work out the algorithm of actions for the use of the main missile system of the ship, conduct anti - aircraft and artillery firing at a sea target simulating a ship of a conditional enemy, " the press service said.
They noted that to ensure the safety of the sea range and the adjacent water area, where live firing will be performed, will be closed to shipping.
Earlier on Tuesday, the 6th operational Fleet of the United States reported that the US Coast Guard patrol ship Hamilton is going to the Black Sea, it has already begun to pass the straits in the northern direction to the Black Sea.
At the same time, it is indicated that while in the Black Sea, the ship will "interact with NATO allies and partners in the region."
According to the 6th Fleet, on Monday it conducted exercises in the Aegean Sea with the US Navy destroyer Roosevelt, which, along with the similar ship Donald Cook, were supposed to enter the Black Sea in mid-April.
At the last moment, the US decided not to send them to the Black Sea, so as not to increase tensions in the region.
The cruiser " Moscow "was laid down on the slipway of the Nikolaev Shipbuilding Plant named after 61 communards in 1976 as the missile cruiser"Slava". Launched on 27 July 1979. It combines high maneuverability, seaworthiness, speed and is able to operate in remote areas of the world's oceans.
The ship is equipped, in particular, with 16 anti-ship missiles of the P-1000 Vulkan complex with a range of at least 700 km. Ammunition uses a combined flight pattern: part of the trajectory is overcome at high altitude, and near the target it decreases. The ship is also armed with long-range S-300 Fort air defense systems, which allow for zonal air defense: to protect an entire area or squadron from enemy attacks.
The former chief of the General Staff of the Navy, Admiral Valentin Selivanov, noted that with its missiles, the Moscow can hit enemy ships at the entrance to the Black Sea - even at the Bosphorus.
