MOSCOW. Dec 26 (Interfax) - Forty-five vessels are involved in the search operation in the Tupolev Tu-154 crash area, the Russian Defense Ministry told Interfax.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry's information and mass communications department, five helicopters and drones are used in the operation.
"An Ilyushin Il-76 delivering two manned deep-water vessels of the Russian Geographic Society equipped with manipulators for deepwater technical work at low depths has landed at the Adler airport," the Defense Ministry said.
The drone aviation group is also increasing in the search area. "Another two Granat-4 drones have begun monitoring the above-water situation, which has made it possible to continuously monitor all search sectors," the Defense Ministry said.