The Barents Rescue joint exercises of the rescue services of Russia, Finland, Norway, and Sweden begin in Murmansk on Tuesday, Itar-Tass reports.
An official at the information department of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies (RME) has told Itar-Tass that the exercises are held under the Agremeent among the governments of the member-countries of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council for the fourth time and the first time in Russia.
The RME official said, "The Russian delegation at the exercises is headed by Ruslan Tsalikov, RME First Deputy Minister, and Pavel Plat, chief military expert of the RME".
The rescue services of the four countries are planning to drill mutual notification in the event of an emergency in the environs of a storage of radioactive waste, and joint actions in the conduct of search-and-rescue operations at sea in the area of the Varanger Fjord.
Participants in the joint exercises are also to drill action to eliminate the aftermath of a major road accident, put out a forest fire in a border strip, as well as a blaze aboard a ship and deal with an oilspill at sea.
The exercises are to end on September 10.