YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. July 12 (Interfax) - The Admiral Nevelskoy landing ship and the Yakov Balyayev minesweeper of the Russian Pacific Fleet have trained a safe passage over the Sea of Japan, the fleet press service said on Wednesday.
"The Yakov Balyayev minesweeper from the forces stationed in northeastern Russia has provided a safe passage for the Pacific Fleet's Admiral Nevelskoy landing ship from the fleet base in Kamchatka in a joint tactical exercise," the press service said.
The exercise began with Pacific Fleet marines' boarding of the landing ship with military hardware and weapons. The minesweeper led the landing ship out of the base behind sweeps.
At the second stage of the exercise, the minesweeper cleared the area of mock anti-ship mines "and gave the landing ship a safe passage through minefields in the Sea of Japan."
Artillery crews of the Yakov Balyayev minesweeper fired 12.7mm Kord machineguns at mock floating mines.
Explosions of depth charges were imitated to create realistic combat environment, the press service said.