2008-09 Deployment
On September 8, 2008, it was announced that Petr Velikiy would sail to the Caribbean Sea to participate in naval exercises with the Venezuelan Navy, along with the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and other support ships. This action would represent the first major Russian show of force in that sea since the end of the Cold War.
On September 22, 2008, Petr Velikiy and Admiral Chabanenko left their homeport of Severomorsk.
On October 22, 2008 Petr Velikiy made a port visit to Aksaz Karagac, Turkey and on November 6–9, 2008 the nuclear cruiser and Admiral Chabanenko made a port visit to Toulon, France, before departing the Mediterranean on November 10, 2008 passing through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Petr Velikiy arrived in La Guaira, Venezuela on November 25, 2008 coincident with a visit by Russian President Medvedev and a combined exercise VENRUS-200 with the Venezuelan Navy took place on December 1–2, 2008. After finishing the exercises, Admiral Chabanenko made a short visit to Panama December 5–10, 2008 then to Bluefields, Nicaragua December 13 to 15 and Havana, Cuba from December 19 to 23.
Petr Velikiy continued alone to Cape Town, South Africa. On January 11, 2009, the chief of the Russian General Staff announced that Petr Velikiy and six other Russian warships would participate in a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy later the same month.
On the way to India, the Kirov-class cruiser made a three-day visit to Cape Town, South Africa.
On January 31, Petr Velikiy left the port of Mormugao in the Indian state of Goa. After a two-day visit that included a naval exercise with the Indian guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi the cruiser left for African waters where the vessel joined other warships from the Russian navy and conduct the INDRA-2009 exercise.
On February 12, 2009, the ship captured 10 pirates in three boats off the coast of Somalia.
On March 10, 2009 Petr Velikiy returned to its homeport of Severomorsk, ending a six-month deployment.
Read more about this topic: Russian Battlecruiser Pyotr Veliky