The Russian Pacific Fleet announced on the 27th that the Russian Navy and Chinese Navy submarines have conducted their first joint underwater patrol in the Pacific waters.
The Pacific Fleet stated that diesel-electric submarines from both the Russian Navy and the People's Liberation Army Navy participated for the first time in a joint patrol mission in the Asia-Pacific region. This underwater patrol began in early August, right after the conclusion of the China-Russia "Joint Sea-2025" exercise in the Sea of Japan. The Russian Pacific Fleet's diesel-electric submarine Volkhov and a Chinese Navy submarine conducted the joint patrol along a mutually agreed route in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. The Russian frigate Gromky and the rescue tug Fotiy Krylov provided support for this inaugural underwater patrol. After completing the joint patrol mission, each submarine has returned to base. The Volkhov returned to the Pacific Fleet base in Vladivostok on Wednesday, having covered more than 2,000 nautical miles during its voyage.
The main purpose of the joint patrol was to strengthen naval cooperation between Russia and China, maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, monitor maritime conditions, and protect the safety of Russian and Chinese maritime economic facilities. During the joint training, officers and sailors from both navies also practiced coordinated maneuvers as per tradition.