The Defense Ministry said
last Friday Russia has begun setting up a naval task force in the
Mediterranean, sending several warships from the Pacific Fleet to
the region. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in mid-March
a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean was needed to defend
Russia’s interests in the Mediterranean Sea.
A group of warships, including the destroyer Admiral Panteleyev, the
Peresvet and the Admiral Nevelsky amphibious warfare ships, the Pechenga
tanker and the salvage/rescue tug Fotiy Krylov left the South China
Sea and is headed for the Suez Canal, the ministry said.
The group is due to enter the Suez Canal in mid-May, the ministry
added.
A senior Defense Ministry official said the Mediterranean task force
will comprise 25 officers as part of its command and control system,
and that the command and control agencies will be based either in
Novorossiysk, Russia, or in Sevastopol, Ukraine.
Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov, head of the parliamentary defense committee,
previously told RIA Novosti that the Mediterranean task force should
be comprised of 10 warships and support vessels as part of several
tactical groups - attack, antisubmarine and minesweeping.
The Soviet Union maintained its 5th Mediterranean Squadron from 1967
until 1992. It was formed to counter the US Navy's 6th Fleet during
the Cold War, and consisted of 30-50 warships and auxiliary vessels.
