You're reading: Russia sends another naval ship to Syria

MOSCOW — Russian news agencies say the navy is sending another ship to the Syrian port of Tartus, where Russia has a naval base.

The reports Sunday by
the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agency cited an unidentified official in
the military general staff as saying the Novocherkassk, a large landing
ship, has set sail from the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. The ship is
expected to arrive in the Tartus area in early January.

The
reports gave no information on the ship’s intent. But Russian diplomats
have said that Moscow is preparing a plan to evacuate thousands of
Russians from Syria if necessary. The Defense Ministry announced two
weeks ago that several ships were being dispatched to the Mediterranean.