A Russian vessel has captured three pirate ships off the coast of Somalia.
The nuclear-powered warship, Peter the Great, also detained ten pirates on the boats.
Pirates from Somalia target merchant ships sailing through the busy Gulf of Aden, which connects Europe and Asia via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
Navies from several different countries - including the US, Britain, India and Russia - now patrol the sea off the Horn of Africa to deter pirates.
The US navy yesterday said it had detained nine pirates.
