A Newsweek map tracks how a Russian naval task group traveled from the country's Pacific Coast to the Red Sea during a long-distance voyage in the Indo-Pacific region.

The flotilla, consisting of the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov , the corvette Gremyashchy and the large sea tanker Boris Butoma , departed Vladivostok in Russia 's Far East on October 1 , with two of the ships reported to have reached the Red Sea on December 6.

Newsweek has emailed the Russian defense and foreign ministries for comment.

Why It Matters

The Russian military has regularly deployed its Pacific Fleet for long-distance missions to signal its presence in regions of interest to Russia and to conduct naval diplomacy, port visits and exercises with friendly nations, Thord Are Iversen told Newswee

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