MOSCOW, Feb 15 - RIA Novosti. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Syria, where he inspected the progress of the Russian Navy exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, the ministry told reporters.
In particular, "at the logistics center in Tartus, he heard a report by the Commander-in-chief of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, on the implementation of joint combat training exercises with the VKS to defeat ship groups of a conditional enemy, as well as firing at sea and air targets using artillery and anti-submarine weapons."
Yevmenov reported that more than 15 warships of the Pacific, Northern and Black Sea fleets, including the Varyag and Marshal Ustinov missile cruisers, Admiral Kasatonov, Admiral Grigorovich frigates, large anti-submarine ships Admiral Tributs, Vice Admiral Kulakov and support vessels, as well as over 30 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, were involved in maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea.
"At the Russian Navy's MTO point in the city of Tartus, Sergei Shoigu also inspected the ship repair complex of the Black Sea Fleet, where he set tasks for further improving the infrastructure of the Russian ships' base in Syria," the report says.
During the exercises, measures are also being worked out to search for foreign submarines, establish control over navigation in the Mediterranean Sea and the flight of aircraft over it.
