Russian Sailors Leave Mistral Behind

Russian sailors gather in front of the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Vladivostok at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France, on Dec. 17, 2014.? 




Russian sailors who have been training for months on Mistral amphibious assault ships at the French port of Saint-Nazaire prepared to return to Russia on Wednesday, even as the status of the lucrative French-Russian deal remains uncertain.





Read more:

Russian Sailors Training on Mistral Warships to Return From France, Reports Says

Russian sailors board their Russian navy frigate Smolny at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

A Russian sailor looks through a porthole of the Russian Navy frigate Smolny as the ship leaves the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

A Russian sailor stands on the deck of the Russian navy frigate Smolny at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

A Russian sailor stands on the deck of the Russian navy frigate Smolny at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

A Russian sailor stands on the deck of the Russian navy frigate Smolny at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

Russian sailors board their Russian navy frigate Smolny at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

A Russian sailor smokes his cigarette near the Russian navy frigate Smolny at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

Russian sailors wave from the deck of the Russian Navy frigate Smolny as they leave the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

Russian sailors board their Russian Navy frigate Smolny as they leave the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.

The Russian Navy frigate Smolny (L) is pictured near the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Sevastopol before leaving the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France.