19.09 2nd Missile Cruiser May Join Russia�s Mediterranean Force

VLADIVOSTOK, September 19 (RIA Novosti) � The flagship of Russia�s Pacific Fleet, the Varyag missile cruiser, could join the country�s naval task force in the Mediterranean while on a mission in the Indian Ocean, a high-ranking source in Russia�s Pacific Fleet told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

A task force, led by the Varyag, left the naval base in Vladivostok on Wednesday. It is expected to arrive in the Gulf of Aden in October. Some media outlets earlier reported that the warship would replace the Moskva missile cruiser as the flagship of the Russian task force in the Mediterranean.

�The Varyag missile cruiser will carry out a number of tasks in the Indian Ocean until the end of this year and may join Russia�s task force in the Mediterranean if necessary,� the source said.

The source did not specify the nature of the Varyag�s mission in the Indian Ocean, but said the Mediterranean tour was not a priority for the warship.