Russia’s defence ministry boosts surveillance efforts along Syrian coastline

Command of Russia’s Defense Ministry has made a decision to boost surveillance along the Syrian coast, told Itar-Tass a source from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. “Enhancing activity aimed at uncovering and monitoring the situation in maritime regions adjacent to the Syrian coast will be performed through increasing the number of reconnaissance ships in the Mediterranean,” the source said, adding that one of the watercrafts, Vishnya-class intelligence ship SSV-201 Priazovye will set the course for Syria on Sunday. “This is standard practice for any navy in case of rising tensions in a particular oceanic or maritime region. The Syrian situation will be thoroughly monitored, as apart from intelligence ships, other Navy watercrafts on regular deployment in the Mediterranean will participate in the surveillance mission using standard-issue intelligence equipment, which every ship has,” the General Staff’s representative said.     Russian military experts have estimated that generally 3 to 5 intelligence ships are generally used to monitor a situation similar to the one unraveling in Syria.