MOSCOW. Oct 19 (Interfax) - The Northern Fleet's large antisubmarine ship Vice-Admiral Kulakov and support vessels have paid a business visit to the port of Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, the fleet's press service said on Tuesday.
"The crews of the Vice-Admiral Kulakov large antisubmarine ship, the Akademik Pashin medium oil tanker and the Altai rescue tug will stock up on water, fuel and food supplies over the next few days. There are no plans for a city outing due to the difficult epidemiological situation," the statement said.
The Russian sailors are patrolling the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to ensure safe civilian navigation, using deck-based aviation to monitor the overwater situation, the press service said.
Last week the crews conducted an exercise in freeing a civilian vessel seized by pirates and fired shipborne artillery and missiles against surface targets, it said.
"As well as fighting piracy, the crews of the Vice-Admiral Kulakov and the support vessels have prepared to provide possible help to sailors in distress in the ocean," the statement said.
The crews have been on the anti-piracy mission since the beginning of October. Between August 18 and September 23 the surface group was operating in the Mediterranean, visiting Algeria, Syria and Cyprus, and conducting submarine defense and search drills.