Russian warships to resume Horn of Africa patrols in late April

MOSCOW, April 16 (RIA Novosti) - A task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet will resume anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa in late April, a Navy spokesman said on Thursday.

The Admiral Panteleyev destroyer, a salvage tug and a tanker will replace a task force led by the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer, which has been involved in the anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia since the beginning of January.

"The Navy command has been closely watching the situation developing around the Horn of Africa, in particular in close proximity to Somali coast, where piracy has been on the rise lately," the officer said.

He said the area would be patrolled on a regular basis by Russian destroyers and missile frigates, as well as support and auxiliary ships.

The Admiral Panteleyev is an Udaloy class missile destroyer, armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and Ka-27 Helix helicopters.

The Admiral Vinogradov and the Boris Butoma tanker have completed their anti-piracy mission around the Horn of Africa and have returned to their base in Vladivostok.

Around 20 warships from the navies of at least a dozen countries are involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia. According to the United Nations, Somali pirates carried out at least 120 attacks on ships in 2008, resulting in combined ransom payouts of around $150 million.