Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk52/2021

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at the morning of January 01

Weekly Brief

Additional naval forces have entered the Mediterranean, these include an Aleksandrit class minehunter, RFS Georgy Kurbatov, the logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov and possibly the Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Novorossiysk.
Although these vessels are heading to the Black Sea, it is unknown if they will stay for a longer period in the Mediterranean before moving on.

Daily Events

December 25
Aleksandrit class minehunter RFS Georgy Kurbatov reportedly passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. The vessel is heading towards the Black Sea where it will join the Black Sea Fleet [1].

Elbrus class logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov also entered the Mediterranean around 0530Z [2][3].

December 26
Rescue tug Spasatel Bekh passed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. The vessel is presumably escorting the Improved Kilo class submarine RFS Novorossiysk. Bad weather did not allow for a visual observation [4]. 

December 27
Tapir class landing vessel RFS Orsk passed the Bosporus around 18:00Z. The transit was visually observed [5].

December 28
The AIS signal of Elbrus class logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov was reported north of Bizerte during the morning. The vessel is heading east towards the Central Mediterranean [6].
The AIS signal of Rescue tug Spasatel Bekh was reported northwest of Algiers around noon. The vessel is also continuing on an eastern course [6].

December 31
Better images of the passage of the Kilo class submarine were released on this date, showing the submarine making the passage on December 26 [7].

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