[Regnum] The frigate Admiral Gorshkov of the Russian Northern Fleet, accompanied by the medium sea tanker Akademik Pashin, arrived at the port of Oran in Algeria, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reported on July 26.
“The visit of the Russian sailors will last several days,” the department stated.
It was noted there that the Russian Navy ships are carrying out missions in the distant sea zone.
During the visit, the sailors will take part in protocol events. They will also have a rest on the shore after the transatlantic crossing, get acquainted with local sights and play a friendly football game with sailors of the Algerian Navy, the department added.
The Admiral Gorshkov's long-distance voyage began on May 17. During this time, the frigate has already covered more than 13,000 nautical miles and visited ports in Cuba and Venezuela. The Defense Ministry emphasized that the mission's objective is to demonstrate the flag and ensure presence in operationally important areas of the distant ocean.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, it was previously announced that ships of the Baltic Fleet would arrive at the port of Cuban Havana on July 27. The training ship Smolny, the patrol frigate Neustrashimy and the tanker Yelnya are awaiting them there. The working visit will last until July 30.
On June 12, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear submarine Kazan, the tanker Akademik Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy entered the port of Havana. According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, the visit took place within the framework of international cooperation.
According to CBS News, the US, for its part, sent its naval ships to spy on the Russian ships' visit to Cuba. British defence expert Ian Ballantyne called the Russian submarine in Cuba a "threatening" signal to the West . The expert noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to use his fleet as a powerful global political and military instrument.
The press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, noted that such visits, like Russian exercises in different regions of the world, are normal practice, and therefore there is no reason for concern.