Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Korolyov, arrived in Syria to inspect joint exercises by the Russian Navy, naval aviation and the Aerospace Forces in the Mediterranean Sea.

"The drills proceed as scheduled," he said, adding that the exercise is geared to drill new methods of collaboration of forces at sea.

The Russian Navy and Aerospace Force launched military drills in the Mediterranean on September 1 for the first time. The exercise will last until September 8. The drills will involve 26 warships, including two submarines, and also 34 aircraft.