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The Russian Navy intends to build its presence in the Mediterranean Sea - particularly in the area close to Syrian shores - to up to 10 battleships, announced Admiral of the Fleet Viktor Chirkov. Two battleships of the Russia's Black Fleet, guided missile destroyer 'Smetlivy' and landing craft carrier 'Nikolay Filchenkov' left their bases in Sevastopol and Novorossiysk respectively and early on Friday morning and passed the Bosphorus Strait, heading to the eastern Mediterranean. READ MORE: http://on.rt.com/ri2idy