SEVASTOPOL. Feb 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Black Sea Fleet's Azov large displacement landing craft, headed by Captain Dmitry Khudoba, has successfully crossed the Black Sea straits and entered the Aegean Sea. The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet battle group, the Moskva missile cruiser, flying the flag of Vice Admiral Vasily Kondakov, Deputy Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, will cross the straits on Tuesday, the Black Sea Fleet press-service told Interfax-Military News Agency.
After that the battle group will head for Sicily. Combat ships have to operate in adverse weather conditions.
Officials from the Allied Maritime Component Command Naples conducted a number of planned lectures for Russian military sailors, who are to take part in the NATO-led Operation Active Endeavor, aboard the Moskva missile cruiser, the press-service said.
NATO officers outlined the tasks and prospects of, and forces involved in Operation Active Endeavor, embarked on in the Mediterranean in 2001. The lectures were aimed at discussing liaison and logistic support, as well as upcoming joint exercise involving NATO and Russian Black Sea Fleet ships.
The exercise is to start on February 14, when the battle group completes its visit to the Italian seaport of Messina.