Russia to hold Indian Ocean naval drills

MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Russia says its Navy warships are set to hold drills in the Indian Ocean after leaving Venezuelan waters in several weeks.

A fleet of ships, led by the missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, plan to conduct combat naval exercises in the Indian Ocean before making a number of calls to ports in the Arabian Sea, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.

The Arabian Sea -- an intersection of major trading routes -- increasingly has been occupied by pirates attacking commercial and civilian vessels.

The planned naval drills will help deter piracy as will a Russian missile frigate that last week began patrolling the waters of the Gulf of Aden, the Russian news agency reported.