Russia denies plans to send its warship to Syrian coast

The Smetlivy coastal guard ship will sail to the eastern area of the Mediterranean Sea to join the Russian permanent Navy squadron stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, rather than sail to the Syrian coast, a source from the General headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. \"Indeed, Smetlivy is scheduled to sail from Sevastopol on September 12, but the exact time of its departure depends on the condition of the ship. After it passes the Bosphorus-Dardanelles strait zone, Smetlivy will arrive in the eastern area of the Mediterranean Sea, where it will join the squadron of the Russian Navy which is permanently stationed there,\" the source said. Reports circulated by a number of media outlets alleging that the ship will straight sail to the Syrian coast do not conform to the reality,\" the high-ranking source said. The source reminded of the fact that the zone of the activity of the permanent squadron of the Russian Navy covers the entire water area of the Mediterranean Sea, including its eastern section.\"However, this does not mean that ships belonging to this Navy squadron should necessarily be staying by the Syrian coast or in its ports,\" the high-ranking source said.