M A I N   N E W S

First-ever naval exercises with Russia on May 20

New Delhi, May 18
A delegation of the Russian Navy, led by Rear Admiral Vladimir Pepelyayev, has arrived in India to finalise the details of the first-ever joint exercises to be held on May 20 and early June in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

The first stage of the exercises will be held with ships from the Indian Navy’s Western Command, and battleships of the Eastern Command will figure in the second stage of the exercise.

Leading battleships from both the Pacific and Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, including the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet- missile cruiser “Moskva”, and three ships of the Pacific Fleet, the large anti-submarine craft “Admiral Panteleyev” and “Marshal Shaposhnikov”, as well as the tanker “Vladimir Kolechitsky”, will participate in the exercise.

The joint Russian-Indian naval exercises “will help strengthen political stability in the South Asian region”, Rear Admiral Pepelyayev said, according to a “RIA Novosti” report today.

Emphasising that India was the “main strategic partner” of Russia in this “important” region, Rear Admiral Pepelyayev, the representative of the main headquarters of the Russian navy, said military and technical cooperation between the two countries was developing actively and, therefore, “it is necessary to further develop military cooperation proper, including measures for the interaction of the navies of both countries.”

The Deputy Commander of the Black Sea Fleet Vice Admiral Yevgeny Orlov is leading the Russian squadron. UNI