The Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday NATO submarines had been tracking its battle group in the Mediterranean and that it had chased away a Dutch submarine which had been dangerously manoeuvring nearby, reported Reuters news agency.
According to the Russian defence ministry, the Severomorsk and the Vice-Admiral Kulakov, two of its anti-submarine ships, had “spotted a submarine from the Dutch navy… which tried to approach the Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier group in the eastern Mediterranean.”
The Dutch submarine, which was detected by anti-submarine helicopters, was located around 20km from the Russian warships, it said.
Moscow has assembled a sizeable battle group in the Mediterranean, including its only aircraft carrier, to support its air campaign in Syria where it is helping President Bashar al-Assad try to defeat rebels