Russian navy units to visit Malta

Some of the vessels in a flotilla from the Russian Black Sea fleet will be visiting Malta on completion of exercises in the central Mediterranean.

They will be here between Tuesday and Friday, the Russian embassy said.

The group consists of the cruiser Moskva, the assault ship Azov, the destroyer Smetlivy, the tanker Bubnov and the rescue tug SB-36. The ships have already visited Turkey, Greece and Italy.

The ships are engaged in joint anti-terrorist naval exercises with the Italian navy called IONE X - 2004. The exercises are being held under the direction of Black Sea fleet Commander Admiral V. Masorin and the Commander of the Italian forces Andrea Toscano.