RUSSIAN warships entered the Barents Sea to rehearse protecting western end of the Northern Sea Route used by LNG tankers and supply ships serving the Yamal Peninsula gas fields, Reuters reports.
A threatened invasion of the Ukraine would end the utility of the gas pipeline to the EU, creating greater reliance on gas tankers to get the LNG out to Archangel or Murmansk, that provide Atlantic access.
Moscow says drills, which involve around 30 warships, 20 aircraft and 1,200 personnel, are designed to assess troops' combat readiness in the Arctic and their ability to protect the Northern Sea Route.
The exercises will see troops rehearse repelling military threats and help 'ensure the security of sea lanes and Russia's areas of maritime economic activity in the northern seas in the event of a crisis,' the Northern Fleet said.
Russian authorities have said the country plans to begin year-round shipping via the Northern Sea Route this year or next.
SeaNews Turkey
A threatened invasion of the Ukraine would end the utility of the gas pipeline to the EU, creating greater reliance on gas tankers to get the LNG out to Archangel or Murmansk, that provide Atlantic access.
Moscow says drills, which involve around 30 warships, 20 aircraft and 1,200 personnel, are designed to assess troops' combat readiness in the Arctic and their ability to protect the Northern Sea Route.
The exercises will see troops rehearse repelling military threats and help 'ensure the security of sea lanes and Russia's areas of maritime economic activity in the northern seas in the event of a crisis,' the Northern Fleet said.
Russian authorities have said the country plans to begin year-round shipping via the Northern Sea Route this year or next.
SeaNews Turkey
