A joint operation between the Russian warship Neustrashimy (Fearless) and the British frigate HMS Cumberland has prevented a pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden, according to Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo. It was the first time Russian forces have mov

The Russian and British ships foiled pirates who fired automatic weapons towards a Danish ship named Powerful and tried several times to seize it, said Dygalo.
 
“A Ka-27 helicopter took off from the Fearless and a Lynx helicopter from the Cumberland, to prevent it being captured. The Russian frigate Fearless has already carried out several escort operations in the area,” he said.

The Ukrainian cargo ship Faina was captured last month in the region and its crew of Russians, Ukrainians and a Lithuanian are still being kept hostage.

The Russian ship Fearless was sent to the Gulf of Aden to help provide security.

So far this year, more than 55 ships have been targeted by pirates in the area, with 11 ships’ crews, consisting of some 180 people currently held hostage.

The coastal waters of Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria, Brazil and the China Sea have become infamous for piracy, with more than 500 pirate attacks registered annually, according to the German Ship Owners Union.