Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk18/2021

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at noon of May 08

Weekly Brief

The reported naval activity during this week was limited to the arrival of several Black Sea Fleet warships into the Mediterranean. The various types of vessels and their limited numbers suggest a new rotation of warships stationed in Tartus, Syria.
At the same time, Syrian express runs continue at their regular pace with a Ropucha heading to Tartus and the tanker Sig and Yaz heading towards Baniyas, Syria.

Daily Events

May 02
Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Makarov transited the Bosporus and entered the Mediterranean [1]. The vessel will most likely relief the frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich.

May 05
Ropucha class landing ship RFs Novocherkassk has transited through the Bosporus and entered the Mediterranean. The vessel is heading for the Syrian port of Tartus [2].

May 06
Natya class minesweeper RFS Kovrovets passed the Bosporus and headed into the Mediterranean [3]. the vessel is expected to relief the Aleksandrit class minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov.

May 07
Sliva class rescue tug Shaktar transited the Bosporus and entered the Mediterranean [4] [5].

Grigorovich class class frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich was seen on satellite imagery in the Aegean Sea heading towards the Dardanelles [6].

May 08
Rescue tug Sergey Balk was located in the central part of the Aegean Sea around 8 AM. The rescue tug is escorting the Russian tankers Sig and Yaz [7] [8]. At the same time, the rescue tug Shaktar entered the northern part of the Aegean Sea [9].

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