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From the cruiser's bridge the Russian head of state observed, among other things, the launch of Sineva ballistic missiles. The Northern Fleet's nuclear missile carrying submarine Tula fired a long-range rocket from underwater at a hypothetical target near the equator in the Pacific Ocean in order to verify and confirm its performance.

Before starting the exercises the Supreme Commander toured the cruiser and examined its aviation equipment and weaponry. The heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is Russia's first cruiser with a horizontal takeoff system for aircraft. The President was shown the ship fighter Su-33 that is designed to foil an enemy attack from the air and the Ka-27 antisubmarine helicopter which can be used to search for, locate and destroy submarines.

Dmitry Medvedev then went into the combat information centre and the control room where all information on the situation near where the exercises are being carried out is gathered. These data act as the basis for the crew's decisions on how to react.

The President heard a report by the Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky.

More than five thousand soldiers, eight surface ships, five submarines, and 11 planes of the Northern Fleet's Air Force participated in the exercises in the Barents Sea.

The exercises were conducted as part of the Stability-2008 large-scale strategic command and staff exercises.

Dmitry Medvedev was accompanied by Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky. On board the cruiser the President met the Commander of the Northern Fleet Vice-Admiral Nikolai Maksimov.