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Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk07/2025

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Feb-15 Weekly Brief The evacuation of military equipment from Syria continues with the first large convoy composed of two amphibious warships and two civilian cargo vessels departing the Mediterranean on February 9th. A second transport run, composing of just the cargo vessel Baltic Leader, is also observed on February 14th, heading westwards after docking in Tartus. The vessel is probably escorted by a Russian frigate to prevent interception. At the same time, Russia attempts to maintain an Improved Kilo class submarine in the Mediterranean. The submarine Krasnodar entered the Mediterranean on February 14th. Just how long the submarine can operate without a Russian base remains to be seen though several port visits could help in keeping the vessel supplied and operational for longer than is expected. Daily Events February 09 Russian weapon runners Sparta and Sparta II, together with the civilian tanker General Skobelev and ...
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Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk06/2025

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Feb-08 Weekly Brief Over the week, the Russian task force is slowly exiting the Mediterranean with a convoy moving from the area east of Malta towards the Strait of Gibraltar. The convoy is centered around the civilian cargo vessels Sparta and Sparta II, both of them presumed to be transporting military equipment from Syria back towards Russia.  Escorting this convoy are the frigates Admiral Golovko and Admiral Grigorovich. Also present is the Ropucha class landing vessel Alexandr Otrakovsky. It unclear if this vessel is transporting military equipment as well as OSINT sources did not report her docking in Tartus, Syria. Civilian oiler General Skobolev is also present. The role of this oiler is not clear but the vessel could serve as a possible storage of fuel to keep the Russian fleet oilers Vyazma and Yelnya topped up, though Yelnya has been lingering near Bani Safi, Algeria, for the past weeks, serving as a refueling ...
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Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk05/2025

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Feb-01 Weekly Brief Weapon runners Sparta and Sparta II have been observed departing Tartus, Syria, and are heading westwards towards the Central Mediterranean. These vessels are escorted by the majority of the Russian Mediterranean Task Force though it is unclear if these vessels are setting course to the Strait of Gibraltar or heading towards Libya. Daily Events January 29 The majority of the task force was observed in a positions 208km southeast of Crete and on a western course while escorting the weapons runner Sparta and Sparta II. The identified vessels were the frigates Admiral Golovko and Admiral Grigorovich, Ropucha class landing vessel Alexandr Otrakovsky, Ivan Gren class landing vessel Ivan Gren, Kaliningradneft oiler Vyazma as well as the civilian oiler General Skobalev [ 1 ].
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Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk04/2025

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-25 Weekly Brief The Russian cargo vessels Sparta and Sparta II have entered the port of Tartus after several weeks of sailing in racetrack patterns near Tartus. The arrival of both vessels took place shortly after the Syrian Transitional Government announced that it cancelled the Russian 49 year lease of the port of Tartus. With both vessels present inside the port, it is understood that the Russian maritime evacuation from Tartus is starting though cloud cover prevented observation by satellite. Daily Events January 19 Satellite imagery shows the task force present at large near the port of Tartus, Syria. The vessels identified were the frigates Admiral Golovko and Admiral Grigorovich, Landing ship Ivan Gren, fleet oiler Vyazma, civilian tanker General Skobolev and the cargo vessels Sparta and Sparta II [ 1 ]. January 21 AIS signals shows cargo vessel Sparta II docked inside the port of Tartus with cargo vessel Sparta a...
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Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk03/2025

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-18 Weekly Brief The Russian Task Force remains in a holding pattern of the port of Tartus, Syria, awaiting permission to enter the port and starting the evacuation. Cargo vessels Sparta and Sparta II spend their time sailing racetrack patterns near Tartus. The question is how long the Russians can maintain their presence of Tartus. The Ropucha class landing vessel Alexander Otrakovsky allegedly suffers technical breakdowns with a a broken water desalination system and two leaking fuel tanks. So far, the vessel has not been observed docked within Tartus for the necessary repairs, raising questions on how much longer the vessel can remain at sea with limited fuel and drinking water. The fleet oilers are currently the only means of keeping the Russian vessels supplied with refueling operations observed on January 14th. Oceanographic research vessel Yantar departed the Mediterranean after an observation of the wreckage s...
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Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk02/2025

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-11 Weekly Brief Russia's maritime composure in the Mediterranean remained largely unchanged during this week with the task force operating outside the Syrian territorial waters of Tartus, Syria. The Russian cargo vessel Sparta remains in a racetrack outside Tartus, awaiting permission by the new Syrian government to enter the port and start withdrawing military equipment. Ropucha class landing vessel Alxandr Shabalin departed the Mediterranean after a weapons transfer with Algeria. It is unclear if Russia delivered or picked up weapons at Oran. Daily Events January 05 Satellite imagery of the area near Tartus, Syria, revealed the presence of the frigates Admiral Golovko and Admiral Grigorovich as well as weapons runner Sparta [ 1 ]. January 06 Ropucha class landing vessel Alxandr Shabalin is reported of the coast of Portugal [ 2 ]. Russia weapons carrier Lady Mariia passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Atla...
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Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk01/2025

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Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-04 Weekly Brief Russia no longer operates submarines in the Mediterranean as its sole submarine, the Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk, departed the Mediterranean on January 2nd. The vessel was escorted by the fleet oiler Yelnya all the way until Bou Zadjar, Algeria. The Yelnya most likely refueled the submarine prior to its departure, ensuring that the vessel will be able to reach the Baltic Sea and rejoin the Baltic Fleet. Additional Russian cargo vessels keep entering the Mediterranean, possibly for a maritime evacuation of Tartus. Russian research vessel Yantar concluded a port visit in Alexandria, Egypt. Daily Events December 31 Russian ocean going tugboat Titan passed the Strait of Gibraltar and headed into the Mediterranean. The vessel is heading towards Suez [ 1 ]. January 01 Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk was observed near the Algerian coast as it headed towards the Strait of Gibraltar [ 2 ]...
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