 Russia's Defense Ministry said on April 18 that its strategic and multi-purpose nuclear submarine had been deployed in the Pacific as part of a snap-review of Russia's Pacific Fleet combat readiness, as ordered by President Vladimir Putin. Naval minesweepers ensured a safe departure for the submarines from their base on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East, close to sea borders with the US and Japan. The submarines departed bases under smoke screens with special naval forces on speedboats escorting them, ministry said. The ministry also said on Monday that two 142 anti-submarine aircraft of Russia's Pacific Fleet performed sorties aimed at searching for enemy submarines. The aircraft stayed in the air for the maximum duration, they are able to stay airborne.