The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that the country sent its heavy nuclear cruiser Pyotr Velikiy to participate in the operation to transport another batch of Syria’s chemical weapons.

"Pyotr Velikiy, in conjunction with China's frigate Huangshan and the Royal Danish Navy's Esbern Snare ship, has fulfilled the task of escorting and providing safety for the Danish special transportation vessel Ark Futura carrying another batch of Syrian chemical weapons on board. The task was fulfilled successfully," a Russian Navy spokesperson said.

This has been the 13th operation of escorting the chemical weapons in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea since January, the spokesperson said.

On September 14, 2013, Russia and the United States agreed on a deal under which Syria would have its chemical weapons eliminated and the US would in return not carry out planned strikes on the Arab country.

The war rhetoric against Syria intensified after foreign-backed opposition forces accused the government of President Bashar al-Assad of launching a chemical attack on militant strongholds in the suburbs of the capital Damascus on August 21, 2013.

Damascus vehemently denied the accusations, saying the attack was carried out by the militants themselves as a false-flag operation.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. Over 150,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by foreign-backed militants.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

NTJ/MB