A Russian frigate, the Neustrashimy (Fearless), seized on Saturday a boat with seven pirates on board during an operation to thwart an attack on a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, a Russian Navy spokesman said.

Slovenia's Ariella vessel with a crew of 15 nationals of the Philippines, seven Ukrainians, a Slovenian, a Bulgarian and an Indian, was en route from the Black Sea port of Sevastopol to Indonesia when it gave a distress call early on Friday.

"The Neustrashimy is currently escorting the Ariella vessel eastwards. After having been convoyed off, the Ariella will resume its route to the port of destination on its own," the naval source said.

The fate of the captured pirates is unclear. They could either be prosecuted by Russia, or handed for prosecution to other states, namely Slovenia, which owns the Ariella, or Somalia's neighboring states, such as Kenya or the Seychelles.

The Russian Navy has maintained a constant presence off the Horn of Africa, with each fleet dispatching warships on a rotational basis. Russia joined international anti-piracy efforts off Somalia in October 2008.

MOSCOW, February 6 (RIA Novosti)