MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Navy has started forming a task force that will permanently operate in the Mediterranean to defend Russia's national interests, Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Viktor Chirkov told the press on Monday.
"The defense minister has tasked us to form a Navy formation for operating in the Mediterranean on a permanent basis," he said after an intercom conference at the Defense Ministry's situation center.
He said that the Navy command is currently analyzing issues related to the establishment of the formation.
"Personnel will be selected for controlling the task force who will later be commanded to the Mediterranean," the admiral said.