Vessels from Russia's Caspian Navy Fleet are conducting joint naval exercises with Kazakhstan.
The press service of Russia's South Military District issued a statement on October 7 saying Russian ships "Daghestan" and "Grad Sviazhsk" and Kazakh warships "Kazakhstan" and "Oral" were holding joint exercises to practice "protecting maritime economic facilities."
The Russian and Kazakh warships conducted separate and joint live fire drills at targets on the sea and in the air, and also at mines.
The exercises also involve search and rescue operations for a disabled allied warship.
At the conclusion of the October 7 exercises with Kazakhstan, the Russian warships will head to Iran's Bender Enzeli and later to Baku in Azerbaijan.
The naval exercises come after the leaders of the five Caspian states met in Russia last month and agreed to prevent foreign militaries from gaining any influence in the Caspian Sea.
