Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk19/2021

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT on May 16

Weekly Brief

Activity by the Russian task force in the Mediterranean remained low with only a few reported naval activities. Most vessels were heading towards or were spotted at the Syrian port of Tartus.

Daily events

May 08

Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich transited the Bosporus and headed into the Black Sea [1]. The transit took place around 1720Z [2].

An unidentified Russian warships is reported west of Paphos, Cyprus, during the afternoon. The vessel is believed to be the Ropucha class LST RFS Novocherkassk [3].

May 10
Rescue tug Sergey Balk and the tankers Sig and Yaz were reported in the area between the northern Cypriot and Turkish coastlines. All three vessels were heading east towards Tartus [4].

Several Russian vessels harbored in Tartus were observed on satellite imagery. These included the Improved Kilo class submarines RFS Rostov on Don and Stary Oshkol, the minehunter RFS Ivan Antonov, Ropucha class landing ship RFS Novocherkassk and the fleet oiler RFS Iman. Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Makarov was observed between Cyprus and Syria on a northeastern course heading towards Tartus [5].

May 14
Olekma class tanker RFS Iman reportedly left the port of Tartus [6].

May 15
Interfax news agency reports that the Aleksandrit class minehunter RFS Ivan Antonov has left the Russian task force at Tartus and is heading back towards the Black Sea. The vessel is expected to return to the port of Sevastopol on May 20 or 21 [7].

May 16
Ropucha class LST RFS Novocherkassk transited the Bosporus at 0530Z and headed back into the Black Sea [8].

The AIS signal of minesweeper RFS Ivan Antonov was detected in the Aegean Sea, west of Psara Island [9]. The vessel is escorting the Russian tankers Sig and Yaz back towards the Black Sea. The German Navy Elbe class replenishment vessel FGS Werra seems to be monitoring the Russian vessels as they are heading north.

Olekma class tanker RFS Iman is suspected to be in transit south of the island of Akrotiri in the Aegen Sea during the afternoon [10].

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