(2 Apr 1999) Russian/Nat
Russia has sent its first naval ship to the Mediterranean, where NATO vessels have participated in strategic missile and airstrikes against Yugoslavia.
The Russian Defence Ministry say the reconnaissance ship, "Liman" has been sent to examine the situation in the Balkans and gather intelligence on NATO movements.
Six other naval warships from the Russian Black Sea fleet are expected to join the Liman which is scheduled to arrive over the weekend.
Russia is heating up tensions with the deployment of more ships in the Mediterranean near the Balkans.
Reconnaissance ship "Liman" from the Russian Black Sea fleet left the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Friday, bound for the Adriatic Sea .
Western analysts claim the move amounts to a spying mission for the Serbs on NATO's forces.
A total of seven ships are expected to sail through the Bosphorus into the Mediterranean, including the cruiser 'Admiral Golovko', the destroyers 'Kerch" and 'Sderzhanny' as well as several frigates and support ships.
Moscow newspapers report the vessels are capable of carrying the feared S-300 anti-aircraft rocket complex and one assault ship was designed to transport a battalion of marines and their armour.
The press service of the Black Sea Fleet said the ship was bearing no weapons and had been ordered to observe the situation.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed Liman's mission would be to gather intelligence information on NATO vessels that are stationed in the Adriatic and participate in Allied air strikes on Yugoslavia.
The Black Sea Fleet said there would be no intervention in the conflict.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"The Black Sea fleet is now preparing for planned exercises in mid-April. We are preparing the ships for the exercises and for carrying out any other orders."
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Andrey Krylov, Russian Black Sea Fleet
The presence of Russian ships so close to the theatre of war have added to the tensions in the Balkans.
It is expected the Russian ships will be under constant surveillance from NATO as soon as they near the Balkan conflict zone.
Russia has maintained their opposition of the bombardment against Yugoslavia and has suspended relations with NATO.
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