A Russian training ship, the Smolny, has weighed anchor and is departing the port of Saint-Nazaire, France, with Russian sailors trained to operate the Mistral helicopter carrier, a municipal council member said on his Facebook page Thursday.
"The Smolny has begun her departure [from the port of Saint-Nazaire] and is receiving a salute from other ships," Jean-Claude Blanchard said.

On Wednesday, the DCNS shipbuilding company confirmed reports that 400 Russian sailors would leave the port of Saint-Nazaire before the end of 2014.