Russia says 68 passengers rescued from ship in Mediterranean Sea

ISTANBUL/ATHENS 

A Russian navy ship and a cargo ship rescued 68 passengers overnight from a distressed ship in the Mediterranean Sea, Moscow said on Monday. 

“The crews of the frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov and the ship Pizhma rescued passengers in the Mediterranean Sea from a ship in distress flying the flags of Germany and Greece,” read a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Gorshkov frigate and Pizhma cargo ship were “performing tasks as part of the permanent formation of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea” when they received a distress signal in Greek territorial waters, according to the statement.

The navy ship was the first to receive a distress signal from Avalon, which it said was a "yacht-type vessel," after which it changed its course and immediately began moving towards where the ship was located.

The rescue operation was “successful” and the rescued people were provided with the necessary medical assistance before being taken to the island of Kalymnos to be transferred on board the boats of the Greek Coast Guard, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Greek media confirmed the incident but did not mention the involvement of Russia.

The state-run news agency AMNA said the migrants were picked up by a commercial ship on the scene and were later transferred to a Greek Coast Guard boat, which transported them to the island of Leros.