16:24 GMT, December 26, 2008 Moscow | A group of Russian Pacific Fleet warships will reach the Indian Ocean to take part in the INDRA 2009 joint exercises with the Indian Navy. The task force is expected to visit the Indian port of Marmagao in late January. INDRA 2009 are set to be held next year.

The Northern Fleet's nuclear-powered GM heavy cruiser Piotr Veliky (Peter the Great) is expected to visit on January 9 – 12 port of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. The Pyotr Veliky will sail down Africa's west coast and pass the southern tip of the continent to join up with warships from the Pacific Fleet for the INDRA-2009 joint exercises.

Another naval task force from the Northern Fleet, led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and including the Admiral Levchenko destroyer, left the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and is passing Gibraltar.

The Admiral Chabanenko, Northern Fleet frigate and two support vessels left Havana Bay, Cuba, after the first visit since the breakup of the Soviet Union. The visit to Cuba completed a Caribbean tour by Russian battleships.

The Baltic Fleet Neustrashimiy (Fearless) escort vessel is escorting a group of commercial ships off the Somali coast. The Russian escort vessel is operating off the Horn of Africa according to international maritime law and agreements.

Russia currently has three naval task groups on tours of duty in the world's oceans.