The rescue of 68 migrants and refugees in the area northwest of Leros was carried out by a Russian modern frigate and cargo ship, according to Russian press reports citing a statement by the Russian Defence Ministry. The Greek Coast Guard statement refers to the Russian-flagged cargo ship but does not mention the nationality of the warship...
"Tonight, the crews of the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" of the Northern Fleet, performing duties within the framework of the permanent formation of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and the cargo ship Pizhma escorted by it, rescued 68 passengers of the foreign ship Avalon, which was in distress in the territorial waters of Greece," a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry said.
According to Russian media, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov was heading to the port of Tartus in Syria, where the Russian Navy's detention center in the Mediterranean is located. While sailing in the southern part of the Aegean Sea, the ship was the first to receive a distress call from a civilian ship. After that, the frigate changed course.
According to the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry, people from the ship who had lost their course were transferred to the dry cargo ship Pizhma, where they were provided with the necessary medical treatment. The rescued persons were then taken to the bay of Kalymnos Island and there they were transferred to the Greek coastguard vessels.
The original Project 22350 class frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" has been serving in the Northern Fleet since the summer of 2018. Since 2020, the ship participated in the test of the latest supersonic anti-ship missile "Zirkon". Now these promising munitions are included in the frigate's arsenal
The standard weapons of the Project 22350 class frigates are long-range, high-precision "Calibr" long-range cruise missiles. In addition, the ships are equipped with the 130-A-192 naval gun, the Poliment-Redut anti-aircraft missile system, the Paket anti-submarine defence system and the Broadsword missile and artillery systems. The frigate also has a Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopter.
The Greek coastguard statement, of course, mentions the incident without giving much detail on how exactly the rescue of the migrants and refugees took place, stating specifically:
"Sixty-eight (68) foreigners were located and rescued, early yesterday morning, by members of the Coast Guard - Greek Coast Guard, in the sea area northwest of n. Leros.
In particular, the N.C.S.E.D./L.S. - EL.AKT. was informed by the European emergency call number ''112'', to provide assistance to an I / F vessel with foreigners on board in the above sea area.
At the spot, the Coast Guard Offshore Ship - Hellenic Coast Guard (P.A.TH.), three (03) patrol boats of the Coast Guard - Hellenic Coast Guard, the F/G ship ''RIZIMA'' flag of Russia, as well as a foreign flag warship.
