Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk21/2021

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at noon of May 29

Weekly Brief

Russia's reported maritime activity in the Eastern Mediterranean was largely focused on the Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Makarov shadowing the French carrier strike group during its deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean. Rescue tug Sergei Balk appeared to be the escort of the RFS Admiral Makarov during this period. 
On May 23th, Ropucha class landing ship RFS Kaliningrad of the Baltic Fleet left the naval base of Sevastopol. The vessel has so far not been reported in transiting the Bosporus.

Daily Events

May 22
Salvage vessel Spasatel Demidov transited the Bosporus and entered the Mediterranean during the evening. The vessel is heading from Novorossiysk towards Murmansk. The vessel is in service with the Russian Federal Agency of Maritime & River Transport [1].

May 23
Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Makarov was seen on satellite imagery shadowing the French carrier strike group south of Cyprus. All vessels were observed heading west [2].

May 25
Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Makarov continues to shadow the French carrier strike group in a position south of Cyprus. The vessel was sighted on satellite imagery on this day [3].

Rescue vessel Sergei Balk was reported in a position 34 12 N 31 06 E, heading eastward at 1802Z. The vessel transmitted a weather report from this position on 8345 kHz [4]. The location close to Cyprus suggests that Sergei Balk is escorting the Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Makarov.

May 26
Rescue vessel Sergei Balk transmitted a weather report at 1202Z on 12464 kHz. The location of the vessel was reported east of Cyprus [5]. The vessel is expected to arrive in the Syrian port of Tartus on the morning of May 27 [6].

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