MOSCOW. Dec 3 (Interfax) - The group of forces stationed in the eastern Mediterranean has been enlarged ahead of an exercise of Russian ships and aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The Russian Armed Forces' group stationed in the eastern Mediterranean was enlarged in the course of preparations for an exercise. The formed groups of combined-arms attack and anti-submarine forces are firing missiles, artillery and torpedoes and practicing bombardments," the ministry said on Tuesday.
"Some of the combat training assignments involve the live use of precision-guided weapons, advanced systems recently commissioned by the Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces," it said.
The ministry released footage of the ships' deployment to Mediterranean with a helicopter escort on Tuesday.
It also released videos of a Tsirkon missile launch by the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and a Kalibr missile launch by the Novorossiysk diesel submarine.
Other ministry videos featured the deployment of a Bastion coastal system and an Oniks missile launch, alongside the takeoff of a MiG-31 fighter jet carrying a Kinzhal hypersonic missile, and a sea target hit during the exercise.
According to the ministry, the exercise overseen by Russian Navy Commander Alexander Moiseyev is taking place on December 1-3, consistent with the Russian Armed Forces' training plan.
The exercise in the Mediterranean involves over 1,000 troops, ten ships and supply vessels, and 24 aircraft, the ministry said.