SEVEROMORSK. April 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has accomplished its mission within the Russian naval force in the Mediterranean and has headed for northeastern areas of the Atlantic Ocean, North Fleet spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
"The cruiser has accomplished its mission within the Navy task force in the Mediterranean and headed for Severomorsk. The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is expected to return to base by late May," Serga said.
He said that the cruiser entered the Mediterranean Sea on January 15. During its stay in the Mediterranean, pilots of the aircraft deployed aboard the carrier mastered their skills in regular flights of ship-based planes and helicopters. In all, over 350 flights were performed from the carrier's deck with the total duration exceeding 280 hours, Serga said.
The Admiral Kuznetsov crew also had joint exercises with other ships of the Russian naval force, among them missile and artillery shooting from the Kinzhal air defense missile system and the AK-630 artillery system jointly with the North Fleet destroyer Admiral Levchenko.
In the course of its long-distance voyage the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov twice visited the port of Limassol in the Republic of Cyprus. The Admiral Kuznetsov departed on the long-distance voyage from the North Fleet main base, Severomorsk, on December 17, 2013.