Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk33/2021

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at noon of August 21


Weekly Brief
A significant increase in combat power took place with the arrival of a Udaloy class destroyer in the western Mediterranean. The arrival of the vessel highlighted the tense relations between Russia and NATO members as official authorization of entering the port of Cueta, Spain, was not given in time. This forced the destroyer to wait until the oiler Akademik Pashin arrived in the western Mediterranean.

RFS Admiral Essen has spent almost the entire week moored in Istanbul where she is taking part in the IDEF2021 military exhibition.

Ship rotations are expected to be ended by the start of week 34. Rescue tug Sergei Balk has been steadily heading to the Turkish Straits. There are rumors that she could be escorting another warship though this was not verified.

Daily Events

August 15
Rescue tug SB-742 of the 314th Rescue Ship Squad of the Black Sea Fleet has passed through the Bosporus and entered the Mediterranean [1].

Small oil tankers Yaz and Sig moved through the Bosporus as they are heading to Kavkaz from Syria [2].

August 16
Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Essen arrived at Istanbul for a port call [3]. The vessel was spotted moored at Sarayburnu around 17:19 local time where it will take part at the IDEF2021 exhibition [4] [5].

Training vessel Smolney arrived in the port of Algiers for a four day port visit during which fresh water supplies are replenished and the crew was given a rest [6].

August 17
Rescue tug Sergei Balk was last reported in the Aegean Sea during the morning. The vessel presumably escorts another warship towards the Bosporus [7].

August 18
Northern fleet Udaloy class destroyer RFS Vice-Admiral Kulakov reportedly passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the destroyer will form part of the task force operating in the Mediterranean  [8] [9]. The rescue tug Altay is also reported passing Gibraltar [10].
The vessel will make a stop at the Alboran Sea in order to replenish her supplies. This will most likely be done from the oiler Akademik Pashin which is reported passing Lisbon, Portugal [11].

A news article in the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reported during the evening that RFS Vice-Admiral Kulakov and rescue tug Pamir were planned to hold a port visit at the Spanish enclave Ceuta which was to last until August 20. The port visit was cancelled at the last moment by the the Russian consignee as no official authorization was given by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs [12].

August 19
Fleet oiler RFS Akademik Pashin passed Europa Point at Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean around 12:30 local time. The vessel set a course for the Tofino Bank near Al Hociema, Morocco where she will probably refuel the Udaloy class destroyer RFS Vice-Admiral Kulakov [13].

August 20
Natya class minesweeper RFS Kovrovets passed through the Bosporus and headed towards the Black Sea. The vessel spent 106 days deployed in the Mediterranean [14].

Rescue tug Sergei Balk was allegedly reported in an area southeast of the Greek island Lemnos [15]. The vessel most likely served as an escort for the RFS Kovrovets.

Training vessel Smolney reportedly left the port of Algiers following a four day port visit [6].

August 21
Rescue tug Sergei Balk was reported heading eastwards in the Dardanelles during the morning [16].

Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Essen departed Istanbul in the early evening. The vessel headed back towards the Mediterranean [17] [18].

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