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Games for strong nerves in the Ionian Sea between Russians and Americans in the presence of the Greek Frigate. Russian exercises have started with three cruisers, frigates, amphibious and submarines
We have continuous missions of NATO AFNS (naval surveillance and cooperation) aircraft flying off Zakynthos, where a thriller has been unfolding since the day before yesterday, between the Russian cruiser “Ustinov”, as well as two other cruisers, and the American aircraft carrier USS Truman.
A special statement from the Russian Navy states: “Il-38 anti-submarine warplanes are implementing measures and scenarios for the pursuit of foreign submarines in the designated area of the eastern Mediterranean,” the statement said.
“The ongoing phase of the exercises is aimed at conducting joint operations with aircraft to hunt and continuously monitor enemy submarines, as well as to provide continuous exchange of data on target maneuvers and various launch weapons,” the Russian ministry said in a statement.
The Russian exercise involves the Varyag and Marshal Ustinov cruisers, the frigates Admiral Kasatonov and Admiral Grigorovich, and the anti-submarine ships Admiral Tributs and Vice-Admiral Kulakov, along with several submarines.
The US Navy’s NATO Boeing P-8As are replacing each other at Sigonella Airport, while the Italian Air Force P-72As from the Sicilian base are carrying out a similar mission to closely monitor Russian naval aircraft, are equipped with powerful Kalibr anti-ship missiles as well as powerful anti-aircraft missiles.
Marshall Ustinov is located in the Ionian Sea, with its last known location, being west of the island of Zakynthos.
The Russian cruisers have somehow “targeted” the battle group of the American aircraft carrier USS Truman located in the southern Adriatic, in a scenario reminiscent a hundered percent Cold War.
Also, the Taranto naval base, which is the main base of the Italian Navy, is less than 200 miles from the position of the Russian warship, which has it within the effective range of its missiles.
The Russian warships cover the Tu-23M long-range bombers with the SU-35S, while at least two Russian submarines “loaded” with Kalibr missiles are sailing down and near the cruiser.
The Greek frigate HYDRA (F-452) that participated in the rescue of the Euroferry Olympia ferry in recent days is currently in the Ionian.
Two days ago, the Italian aircraft carrier Garibaldi (C551) sailed from the port of Taranto, while tomorrow begins the exercise Dynamic Manta 2022, in which various NATO naval units, as well as Greek warships will take part.
Last night we watched a mission of two Boeing P-8As of the US Navy that left Sigonella and carried out a reconnaissance mission right in the area where Ustinov would be located.
According to Russian media sources, “Marshal Ustinov” is closely monitoring the American aircraft carrier “Harry Truman” and the battle team, controlling all firing parameters, if necessary, in an unprecedented move for Russia in the region.
The Russian Navy General Staff, for some reason, sent the Russian Marshal Ustinov guided missile cruiser to the central Mediterranean, with many experts considering the move as a NATO monitoring base in the Mediterranean.
From the region of Crete, the Russian warship took an unexpected route north and began to closely monitor the American aircraft carrier and the battle group that accompanies it in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.
At the same time, immediately after the change of voyage of the Russian ship, American anti-submarine aircraft were sent to the area, due to the deactivation of the Marshal Ustinov transponder.
Moscow is trying to make its presence felt in the Mediterranean, especially near US bases, while even more dangerous is the action of Russian submarines, which in the event of a catastrophic scenario, would undertake all the “dirty work”.
We think that a well-known Greek proverb with the “barn and the two donkeys”, fits a glove in this case inside or outside our Greek territorial waters.
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Source in Greek:-
Photos:- Ermis news
