SEVASTOPOL. May 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Rescue units of the Ukrainian Navy and the Russian Black Sea Fleet have had joint exercises within the bilateral drill Fairway of Peace 2011, the Ukrainian Navy command told Interfax.
"The Navy men of both countries practiced rescuing the crew of a submarine in distress, including the submariners' evacuation through torpedo tubes to the surface, their transportation to rescue boats and medical aid," a command representative said.
Specialists of the Ukrainian Navy Rescue Center, crews of the Zaporizhzhya submarine, the Sokal sanitary cutter and the Romny diver support vessel and a medical team of the Crimean Regional Military Medical Clinical Center represented Ukraine in the exercises. Russia assigned rescuers of the Black Sea Fleet and the crew of the VM-125 diver support boat.
Meanwhile, phase 2 of the Fairway of Peace 2011 exercises practiced the deployment of joint naval forces. Tactical naval groups followed mine sweepers in their exit from bases and had an air defense tactical drill with aerial support. There were also artillery and anti-submarine trainings.