Active Phase of Russian-Egyptian Naval Drills Starts in Mediterranean

Russia's Black Sea Fleet spokesman said that Russian and Egyptian navies, on Wednesday, began the active stage of joint military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian and Egyptian navies, on Wednesday, began the active stage of joint military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, Russia's Black Sea Fleet spokesman said Wednesday.

"In the morning the ships of the Russian Navy… and the Navy of Egypt left the port of Alexandria and headed to the designated areas to hold exercises, " Capt. 1st Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachyov said.

He added that over the next two days the ships will conduct drills on air and naval defense as well as on search and rescue operations.

A total of four Russian vessels, including the Moskva guided missile cruiser and the Samum hoverborne guided missile corvette, arrived in the Egyptian port of Alexandria for the drills last week. Egypt has sent five ships to the joint exercises.

In an earlier statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the first Russian-Egyptian naval drills, codenamed Friendship Bridge 2015, would be held from June 6 to June 14.