VLADIVOSTOK. Dec 9 (Interfax-AVN) - A unit of the Russian Pacific Fleet warships, consisting of the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer, the Butoma and the Pechenga tankers and the Foty Krylov tugboat, will leave Vladivostok on Tuesday heading for the Indian Ocean for joint Russian-Indian Indra-2008 naval exercise.
A solemn ceremony of seeing the ships, which was attended by the fleet's command, representatives of the regional administration, veterans, and sailors' relatives, took place in the Vladivostok port.
Representatives of the Pacific Fleet's command said that the voyage to the Indian Ocean is symbolic, as this is the demonstration of the Russian flag in the World Ocean, while the participation in such events invoke pride for the country and its peoples.
The warships will visit the Indian port of Mormugao, after which they will take part in the Indra-2009 drills. The exercise will train for the protection of routes, fight against pirates and terrorists. The exercise will also involve artillery and missile firing.
The unit will visit the Indonesian port of Jakarta and the Chinese port of Zhanjiang on the way back.
"The voyage will show Russia's readiness to honorably represent its Naval flag and secure its national interests in the World Ocean and serve as a guarantee of stability in the Asia Pacific region. It this will be good training for the sailors, and they will acquire the experience of using equipment and arms in particular climate conditions," the Pacific Fleet's press service said.
The Indra exercise has been taking place once every two years since 2003. The exercise took part in the Peter the Great bay in the Sea of Japan. It involved around a dozen Pacific Fleet's warships and five vessels of the Indian Navy. Joint maneuvers, the replenishment of supply, assistance to a vessel in distress, and joint artillery firing were drilled at that time.