Russian navy starts drills in Pacific

MOSCOW, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Pacific Fleet on Friday started large-scale exercises involving submarines and surface warships in the Far East.

Fleet spokesman Roman Martov told reporters here that the drills would be conducted in the Avacha Bay off the Kamchatka Peninsula.

"The drills include joint operations (of submarines and surface vessels) to test their viability skills. Later, there will be exercises of small missile ships, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine operations," Martov said.

The navy would also carry out over 15 artillery and missile firings against sea-based targets, he added.

Small anti-submarine ships of MPK-82, small missile ships of Moroz and Smerch, and sea mine-sweeping vessels of MT-264 and MT-265 will also participate in the war games this year.

In 2011, the Russian Pacific Fleet held similar sea drills in the Sea of Okhotsk.

Source: Xinhuanet News.