Novorossiysk will host shooting exercises on the evening of Thursday, with officials communicating the plan via a local Telegram channel. The city administration confirmed the event, detailing the schedule and participants for the exercise.
According to the latest information, the drills will take place in the waters surrounding the Novorossiysk port, operating within a window from 21:00 to 23:00 Moscow time. The exercise will be conducted by forces attached to the Novorossiysk naval base, showcasing coordinated maritime operations and readiness in a busy port environment.
In related developments, the naval exercise program known as Maritime Security Belt 2024 has commenced in the Gulf of Oman. The exercise involves three countries—Russia, Iran, and China—and brings together their respective naval forces for a complex, multi-domain training sequence.
Military personnel and ships from the three nations participate in the maneuvers. Among the Russian assets involved are ships from the Pacific Fleet, including the guard missile cruiser Varyag and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov. These platforms will operate alongside Iranian and Chinese units as they practice joint tactics and interoperability.
The primary objective of the Maritime Security Belt 2024 exercise is to test the protection of maritime economic activity. The drills are designed to simulate real-world scenarios that stress critical maritime infrastructure, supply chains, and the safe transit of commercial vessels through potentially contested waters.
During the exercises, Russian, Iranian, and Chinese warships will conduct joint maneuvers, engage both surface and air targets, and work through a scenario involving the rescue and recovery of a vessel captured by pirates. The training emphasizes coordinated interdiction, information sharing, and rapid decision-making under pressure, reflecting modern naval security challenges.
In a broader strategic context, observers note that such exercises aim to demonstrate regional cooperation and the ability to operate under a unified command structure. By rehearsing complex procedures at sea, the participating nations seek to strengthen mutual Understanding and improve the effectiveness of combined responses to threats that could disrupt maritime commerce and regional stability.
Meanwhile, an assessment from the United States has suggested that Ukrainian Armed Forces actions against Crimea are unlikely to achieve battlefield successes in the near term. The remark underscores the ongoing discourse about balancing military capabilities with political and strategic objectives in the region, while not directly influencing the ongoing multinational exercises taking place elsewhere.