Russian Navy - News and Analysis

With the fall of the Al-Assad regime in Syria, the Syrian rebels allegedly gave Russia 48 hours to vacate their military presence in the naval base at Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase. It seems unlikely that Russia can broker a diplomatic deal to remain present in Tartus. It is expected that Russia will have to vacate its naval presence somewhere at the beginning of week 50. As such, the Russian Navy will now have to look what options, if any, it has to maintain some sort of maritime presence in the Mediterranean. Why Tartus mattered The geographic location of Tartus made it an important strategic position for Russia. Located at the very end of the Eastern Mediterranean it was in a region where NATO/western maritime presence was limited compared to the Western and Central parts of the Mediterranean. The closest maritime base of importance for NATO is located at Souda Bay, Crete, which is located at the transition from Central to Eastern Mediterranean. Operating from Tartus meant tha...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Dec-07 Weekly Brief The Russian Mediterranean Task Force appears to have made a demonstration in force before the departure of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov to her homeport. On December 2nd and 3rd, the entire task force departed the port of Tartus for a large scale naval exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean. The exercise was supported by coastal defense batteries and naval aviation and focused on coastal defense and surface warfare. Given the involvement of several services and the availability of a dedicated simulated surface target, it appears that this exercise was planned and coordinated in advance. This contradicts the general narrative of Week 49 where it was stated that the Russian task force was evacuating the port of Tartus given the fast advance of Syrian rebels in Northern Syria. The behavior of the Russian task force corresponds with previous observed patterns during moments of crisis in the region. The Russian ...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-27 Weekly Brief A new intelligence collection vessel, the Yantar, has entered the Mediterranean. Since the vessel operates without an escort, a refueling stop at Algiers was expected in order for the vessel to reach the Eastern Mediterranean. The vessel is designed as an oceanographic vessel meaning that she is specialized in mapping the undersea environment. Russia uses these vessels to locate and map underwater infrastructure such as data cables. Over the next months, the Yantar will be operating in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. Daily Events November 25 Intelligence collection vessel Yantar passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean [ 1 ]. November 26 Sanctioned Russian cargo vessel Lady Mariia passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel is known for transporting weapons and military equipment [ 2 ]. November 27 The intelligence collection vessel Yantar reportedl...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-23 Weekly Brief A period of heightened activity has ended with the vessels all present in the port of Tartus. The exception being Stereguschy class corvette Merkury which was reported in the Skagerrak between Denmark an Norway. The vessel most likely departed the Mediterranean directly following her port visit at Algiers, Algeria, during the previous week. Her passage at the Strait of Gibraltar went unnoticed by OSINT sources. Daily events November 20 Frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Grigorovich, together with Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk and fleet oiler Yelnya were observed in the port of Tartus [ 1 ]. November 21 Steregushchy class corvette Merkury was reported in the Skagerak during the morning [ 2 ].

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-16 Weekly Brief Reported activity remains low, limited to the port visit of the Merkury to Algeria. The port visit came at a moment when Algeria is discussing the acquisition of new surface vessels for its navy. Russia most likely hoped to influence Algeria in choosing for a Russian design. A new task force has entered the Mediterranean composed of the Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Golovko and her escorting fleet oiler Vyazma. It looks like Russia might be rotating the Admiral Gorshkov out in the upcoming weeks. Daily Events November 10 Steregushchy class corvette Merkury arrived in the port of Algiers for a three day long port visit [ 1 ]. November 15 Fleet oiler Vyazma reportedly passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean [ 2 ]. The vessel is most likely operating together with the frigate Admiral Golovko. Russian sources report the Admiral Golovko in the Mediterranean on November 16th [ 3 ],...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-09 Weekly Brief No differentiation in the pattern of naval activity was observed during the past week. Russia appears to keep a surface action group of two surface vessels at sea. Daily Events November 5 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus confirmed the presence of Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk, frigate Admiral Gorshkov and fleet oiler Yelnya [ 1 ].