Russia, Sweden to conduct joint naval drill

MOSCOW - Russian and Swedish navy troops will conduct a joint submarine rescue exercise this year, a Russian military spokesman said Saturday.

Russian Baltic Fleet's search and rescue troops, together with experts from the Swedish Navy, would hold a search and rescue operation later this year, the Russian fleet's spokesperson Vladimir Matveyev said.

The exercise will include searching operation for a "submarine in distress" on the seabed, the exploration of its hull with the use of remote controlled submersible and the rescue of its crew members, RIA Novosti news agency quoted Matveyev as saying.

The navy drills will be held under preliminary agreements reached between Baltic Sea chief Vice Admiral Viktor Kravchuk and Swedish Navy commander Rear Admiral Jan Thomqvist last October in Russia, according to the spokesman.

Russian Defense Ministry said earlier this week that warships from its Northern, Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific Fleets will hold drills in the Mediterranean and Black Seas late this month.