20.09 Moskva Missile Cruiser Leads Russia�s Mediterranean Force

MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti) � The Russian Black Sea Fleet�s Moskva warship has arrived to lead Russia�s naval task force in the Mediterranean Sea, a fleet spokesperson said Friday.

�The Moskva missile cruiser has joined warships in Russia�s task force in the eastern Mediterranean following a voyage from the Atlantic Ocean,� Capt. 1st Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachev said.

�The cruiser hosts the headquarters of the operational command of the task force, which includes warships from the Black Sea, Baltic and Pacific fleets,� Trukhachev said.

The Moskva arrives fresh from a tour-of-duty in the Atlantic, which started on July 3, during which it practiced firing at surface and aerial targets, he said.

The warship also made port calls in Portugal, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Russia has been increasing its naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea since it announced in December it would establish a standing task force there to protect its interests in the region.