MOGADISHU — A Russian warship headed for the seas off Somalia Saturday after pirates seized a Ukrainian freighter carrying 33 tanks, munitions and other weaponry, officials said. The Faina, with a crew of 21, including three Russians, was hijacked on Thursday as it neared the Kenyan port of Mombasa with a cargo of T-72 battle tanks, grenade launchers, ammunition and spares for the Kenyan military, they said. The frigate Neustrashimy (Fearless) was ordered to the region in response to ‘the rise in pirate attacks, including against Russian citizens,’ Russian navy spokesman Igor Dygalo said Friday. ‘Russia’s navy will send ships for temporary missions to areas made dangerous because of maritime piracy to protect Russian citizens and guarantee the safety of shipping,’ he said. The frigate, armed with missiles and guns and carrying a crew of up to 200, will stay near Somalia ‘for more than two months in order to guarantee the safety of Russian ships,’ RIA Novosti news agency quoted the commander of the Baltic Fleet, Viktor Mardusin, as saying. Ukraine’s foreign ministry said late Thursday there were 17 Ukrainian nationals, three Russians and one Latvian aboard the Belize-flagged vessel. ‘The captain reported […]