MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The two-day annual exercise, codenamed “Barents-2015,” will train for at-sea ship and aircraft crew search and rescue operations, as well as oil spill clean-ups in the areas of the Arctic sea off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia.
Russia is participating with rescue helicopters, planes and a rescue tug from its Northern Fleet, while Norway has deployed rescue helicopters and coast guard ships. Moscow is responsible for organizing the drills this year.
The two Arctic nations have cooperated on oil spill response in the area for over 20 years.
Last year, Norway suspended all military cooperation with Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis.
