MOSCOW. June 19 (Interfax) - Russia's Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Pizhma vessel have rescued passengers of a German- and Greek-flagged vessel in distress in the Mediterranean, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
"Last night, the Admiral Gorshkov frigate of the Northern Fleet on mission as part of the Russian Navy taskforce permanently stationed in the Mediterranean, and the Pizhma bulker it was accompanying rescued 68 passengers of the foreign MV Avalon in distress in the Greek territorial waters," the ministry said.
"The Admiral Gorshkov, headed for the port of Tartus, was the first to receive a distress call from the Avalon yacht flying the flags of Germany and Greece in the southern part of the Aegean Sea. Once that happened, the Russian ships changed their course and immediately headed to the wreck zone," the ministry said.