Russia reportedly moves ship loaded with cruise missiles to Syrian coast

Russian navy ships practice military exercises in the Black Sea. — (Image credit: VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP/Getty Images)

A Russian frigate loaded with cruise missiles is expected to enter the Mediterranean on Friday, bound for the Syrian port of Tartus, the Russian news agency TASS reports. The Admiral Grigorovich is reportedly on a routine voyage, but tensions remain high as Russia pledged to help Syria strengthen its air defenses and suspended a deal with the U.S. to avoid mid-air incidents following an American attack on a Syrian airbase early Friday.

A person familiar with the ship's movements told TASS that the frigate will stay off Syria's coasts for as long as the situation calls for, but "in any way it will last more than a month."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.