Russia will hold a series of military drills in the Mediterranea Sea between September 1 and 8. The drills in the Mediterranean will involve 26 warships and submarines, as well as 34 combat aircraft, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Vladimir Korolev said. The country’s Navy and Aerospace Forces will hold joint large-scale naval exercises in the Mediterranean.

“A total of 26 combat vessels, including two submarines, as well as 34 aircraft will take part in the training exercises. The Northern Fleet’s [Slava-class] Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser will lead the naval task force participating in the drills,” Korolev said at a briefing.

According to the admiral, the naval drills will also involve Tu-160 strategic bombers, Tu-142 and Il-38 anti-submarine warfare planes, as well as Su-33 and Su-30SM fighter jets.
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Vladimir Korolev also warned that the area of the naval drills in the Mediterranean has been declared temporarily dangerous for regular navigation and air traffic.

It should be noted that the US Navy also has a strong presence in the region as it has a permanent base in Suda Bay in Crete, among other areas.