Russia participates in Pacific navy drill

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, June 30 (UPI) -- A Russian naval group is participating in the Rim of the Pacific drills in Hawaii for the first time since they began in 1971, officials said Saturday.

A destroyer, the Admiral Panteleyev, a tanker, the Boris Butoma, and a salvage tug, the Fotiy Krylov, arrived at the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, RIA Novosti reported. The three vessels left Vladivostok June 13 and carried out firing drills en route.

The RIMPAC-2012 drills are scheduled from July 11 to Aug. 2. This year, 22 countries are participating with a total of 45 vessels, 100 warplanes and about 20,000 marines.