Russia Navy to hold biggest-ever exercises

MOSCOW - Warships from all Russia's naval fleets will gather in the Mediterranean Sea to hold the biggest- ever exercises, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

"Russian warships are staying in the Mediterranean in line with their program. They are preparing for the biggest inter-fleet exercises in the country's history," the minister said after a secure video conference with President Vladimir Putin.

The Defense Ministry said earlier that an inter-fleet force, comprising ships from the North, Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific Fleets, would conduct exercises in the Mediterranean and Black Seas in late January under a plan for the Russian Armed Forces training in 2013.

Shoigu gave no further details as to the exact date range of the exercises.

"The main goal of the exercises is to practice the formation of a combined group of forces outside of the Russian Federation, plan its use and perform joint operations within a Navy group under the common plan," the Interfax quoted the press service of the ministry as saying.