“Russia has the right to operate in the international waters …. But this time I have conveyed a very clear message that we are concerned about the potential use of this carrier group to increase attacks against Aleppo,” Stoltenberg said.
NATO members have accused the Syrian authorities and Russia of alleged attacks against civilian population of Aleppo, while Moscow and Damascus have repeatedly said that they only target terrorist groups.
On October 15, the Russian Northern Fleet’s press service said that a group of warships headed by the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov and accompanied by the Pyotr Veliky battle cruiser, the Severomorsk and the Admiral Kulakov anti-submarine destroyers, and support vessels was sent to the Mediterranean to hold drills and strengthen capabilities.
