Havana  - Three Russian warships sailed into Havana on Friday for the first time since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, as Moscow boosts relations with the Cold War ally and long-time foe of the United States.

Gun salutes were fired as the missile destroyer Admiral Chabanenko sailed into the port of Cuban capital Havana, accompanied by two other support ships. Hundreds of curious locals and tourists crowded the waterfront to get a first glimpse of the ships.

The destroyer is to stay at the Communist island, which lies just 145 kilometres off the US coast, for five days. It earlier participated in joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy and also stopped in Nicaragua before sailing to Cuba.

The nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great and the Admiral Chabanenko from Russia's Northern Fleet took part in joint war games in the Caribbean last month in a long-distance exercise not seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The show of force in US-patrolled waters coincided with President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Venezuela and Cuba on a four-country tour of South America aimed at reviving Soviet-era alliances in the region. (dpa)