Russian warships ready for trip to Venezuela: officials

MOSCOW: Russian warships including a nuclear missile cruiser are ready to leave for joint exercises with Venezuela, Russian naval officials were quoted as saying Sunday by the RIA Novosti news agency.

"A flotilla of Russia's Northern Fleet ships, including its flagship, the nuclear missile cruiser Peter the Great, destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and escorting ships, will shortly leave Severomorsk, the Northern Fleet's base," said Igor Dygalo, an aide to the chief naval commander.

"As a part of this trip, Russian warships will take part in joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy," he added.

"The ships are loaded with both training and live rounds, all is in good order and checked, the ships are technically sound, all crews are fully prepared, and spare parts are on board the warships and their escorts," Deputy Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Nikolai Karachun said.

President Hugo Chavez, who will visit Moscow this week, confirmed Tuesday that a Russian navy fleet will arrive in Venezuela's territorial waters in "November or December" to conduct joint exercises, the first of its kind close to the United States since the Cold War.

Two Russian TU-160 strategic bombers landed in Venezuela earlier this month to take part in the naval exercises.