The Russian patrol ship Pytlivy, under Chief-of-Staff Vladimir Masorin's flag, has returned to Sevastopol on Wednesday, upon completion of an international naval festival in the Turkish port of Marmaris. After the passage through the Bosphorus Strait into the Black Sea, she held a joint exercise with two Turkish guided missile frigates.
As spokespeople of the Black Fleet command report in a press release, the warships practiced joint maneuvering and communications techniques. They also simulated rescue operations to save people who have fallen overboard and have found themselves at open sea as a result of a plane crash.
One other Russian warship to have taken part in the Marmaris naval festival, the Azov, will now, too, hold a similar exercise with Turkish counterparts. She is expected back in Sevastopol on May 5.
These exercises are being held as part of preparations for the planned participation of Russian warships in a Black Sea Harmony operation, the press release says.
In a preliminary review of the Russian ships' performance in the Marmaris naval festival and in the subsequent exercises, Admiral Masorin highlighted the high competence level demonstrated by their crews.
"Such events make it possible for us to get to know each other's culture and traditions and to directly discuss not only issues related to military cooperation, but also humanitarian and environmental problems and possible solutions to them," Masorin pointed out. "We appreciate the Turkish side's invitation and the hospitality displayed by it, and are hopeful that our relations will maintain momentum."
