A Pacific Fleet task force led by the Admiral Panteleyev destroyer arrived on Tuesday in the capital of Philippines, Manila, on a friendly visit, the fleet’s spokesman said.
The Udaloy class destroyer, accompanied by the Fotiy Krylov salvage tug and the Boris Butoma tanker, is returning to its home port in Vladivostok from an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.
“It is the first visit of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s warships to Philippines in 96 years,” Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said.
“The visit will continue until February 2,” Martov said. “It will include meetings with Philippines naval officials and an extensive cultural program.”
During a four-month anti-piracy mission, which ended on January 15, Admiral Panteleyev escorted a number of commercial convoys through pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast.
At present, another Pacific Fleet’s task force, led by Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs, is carrying out an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, as Russian warships operate in the area on a rotating basis.
Russian warships have successfully escorted more than 130 commercial vessels from various countries through pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast since 2008, when Russia joined the international anti-piracy efforts in the region.
