Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of February 05 As reported by OSINT at the morning of February 05 Weekly Brief The long awaited concentration of Russian warships in the Eastern Mediterranean has been completed with task forces from the Baltic, Northern and Pacific Fleet converging at the Syrian naval base at Tartus. The amphibious assault ships of the Baltic and Northern Fleet were reported in port by the end of the week, resupplying their food, fuel and water supplies. A joint interfleet training exercise is expected to take place somewhere at the beginning of week 06. It is unknown if the amphibious assault ships will later move to the Black Sea as is anticipated. So far, the Russian Ministry of Defense did not release any information where the vessels will go following their interfleet exercise in the Mediterranean. Daily Events January 30 Baltic Fleet Ropucha class landing vessels Kaliningrad, Korolev and Minsk are reported in an area north of Valetta dur...

Fleet overview Weekly Brief Significant naval activity was observed when the Black Sea Fleet held a large scale naval exercise in the vicinity of Sevastopol halfway the week. Three different task groups were observed exercising in a wide variety of naval combat tasks. The exercise were part of a larger series of exercises across the entire Russian Navy. Karakurt class vessel Tsirkon and Improved Kilo class submarine Veliky Novgorod continue their qualification tracks with state trails and crew training being held respectivly. Daily Events January 24 PDSS troops were involved in an anti-sabotage exercise at an undisclosed location at the Black Sea. The PDSS detachment used the Kalmar complex to search and locate a group of underwater saboteurs. The detachment was then deployed from a Grachonok class patrol boat and engaged the saboteurs underwater with special small arms. The detachment also inspected the area for the presence of mine-explosive devices [ 1 ]. January 25 Rescue tug Prof ...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of January 29 As reported by OSINT at the morning of January 29 Weekly Brief A large influx of Russian warships was noticed during this week with the arrival of two groups of amphibious warships. Both groups are composed of three amphibious landing vessels, one from the Baltic and one from the Northern Fleet. Both groups will be involved in a interfleet naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean later next week. This exercise will be held together with a Pacific Fleet task force that was last reported in the Gulf of Aden [ a ]. Intelligence collection vessel RFS  Vasiliy Tatishchev was last reported north of the Balearic Islands where it was hailed by the French  La Fayette class frigate FNS Aconit. The RFS  Vasiliy Tatishchev appears to be heading to the French Mediterranean coast where it will most likely observe the departure of the French carrier task force when it commences its deployment, called operation...

Fleet Overview Weekly Brief The Black Sea Fleet initiated a new rounds of rotations within the Mediterranean Task Force as a Buyan-M class corvette and an Aleksandrit class minehunter were being sent towards the Mediterranean. Regular training exercises continue to take place on several warships and more specialized exercises such as amphibious landings and anti-sabotage exercises were reported as well. Daily Events January 19 Several crews, stationed in Crimea or Novorossiysk, have completed the first phase of their training course and are qualified to head out to sea. The crews are able to prepare a vessel to head out to sea, provide air defense when in harbor, conduct damage control and set up anti-sabotage measurements. In the upcoming second phase, the crews will train for naval combat with rocket and artillery fire being done at sea [ 1 ]. January 20 An amphibious landing exercise took place at the Opuk training ground which saw the deployment of over 500 servicemen. Naval infant...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of January 22 Weekly Brief Naval activity is starting to increase following several weeks of almost no reported movements. The presence of the Harry Turman carrier strike group in the Eastern Mediterranean, escorted by the SSGN USS Georgia will most likely result in the Russian Navy monitoring the movements of the carrier group. The arrival if the  Intelligence collection vessel Vasiliy Tatishchev on January 20th appears to reflect this mindset. The vessel can be expected to monitor the tri carrier exercise between the US, French and Italian Navies that is scheduled in the near future. This exercise is shedulled to take place in February and will see the deployment of the USN Harry Truman, the French Charles de Gaulle and the Italian Cavour. A large influx of amphibious landing vessels is expected to take place next week. Three Ropucha class landing vessels of the Baltic Fleet appear to be heading to the Medi...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of January 15 Weekly Brief OSINT sources did not report any naval activity regarding the Russian task force in the Mediterranean other then a regular Syrian Express supply run. Daily Events January 13 Tapir class landing vessel RFS Orsk passed the Bosporus and is heading towards the Mediterranean [ 1 ]. The vessel is heading to the naval base of Tartus, Syria, and allegedly carries armored personnel carriers [ 2 ].

Fleet Overview Daily Events January 10 Submarines RFS Stary Oshkol and RFS Velikey Novgorod were seen on commercial satellite imagery. The vessels were moored in the naval base at Novorossiysk [ 1 ]. January 12 Aleksandrit class minehunter RFS Georgy Kurbatov arrived at the naval base of Sevastopol, completing her journey to join the Black Sea Fleet [ 2 ]. Buyan-M class corvette RFS Orekhovo-Zuevo is conducting the K-1 crew training course. The course involves preparing the crew for daily life on board, preparing the vessel for deployment at sea and damage control. The crew also held an air defense exercise with the vessel moored in the naval base [ 3 ]. Naval aviation assets trained in detecting and engaging a hostile submarine in the Black Sea. The reported air assets involved Be-12 and An-26 aircraft as well as Ka-27PL and Mi-8 helicopters [ 4 ]. It is unreported if a Black Sea Fleet submarine was involved playing the role of the enemy. January 13 Several commanders and control offi...

  January 01 Baltic Fleet The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that the 336th NI Brigade completed over 5.000 parachute jumps in 2021 as part of the regular training program. Jumps took place from An-26 and Mi-8 aircraft at altitudes between 600 to 1.200 meters and sometimes involved group jumps with up to 30 servicemen [ 1 ]. January 03 Caspian Flotilla According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the 177th NI Regiment completed over 2.000 parachute jumps in 2021 as part of the airborne training program. Each marine completed at least 20 parachute jumps during this training year [ 2 ] [ 3 ]. January 05 Pacific Fleet Artillerymen of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade stationed in Kamchatka shelled avalanche prone areas near the Vilyuchisky volcano. The artillerymen used 120mm mortars to induce avalanches. Their activity is coordinated with the regional avalanche center [ 4 ]. Caspian Flotilla Artillery officers have assembled on the Adanak training ground in preparation for an all...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of January 08 Weekly Brief Several Russian Navy vessels completed their transit through the Mediterranean and joined the Black Sea Fleet. Important to notice was the absence of the Improved Kilo Class submarine RFS  Novorossiysk. The submarine will most likely be stationed at Tartus and complete a tour of duty for several of months before heading into the Black Sea.  The transit of the minehunter RFS G eorgy Kurbatov raised several question as she was observed being taken in tow by the rescue tug SB-739 Vasily Bekh. Several theories are in place such as breakdowns of propulsion or steering as well as a limit amount of fuel to complete the journey to the Black Sea. The minehunter was however observed passing the Dardanelles under her own power. Daily Events January 06 Logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov and rescue tug SB-739 Vasily Bekh are approaching the Dardanelles and appear to start their transit towards the Bl...

Fleet Overview Weekly Brief Orthodox Christmas limited naval activity during Week 01 with limited training by the RFS Admiral Essen, the scheduled arrival of new vessels for the Black Sea Fleet and an air defense exercise which involved the naval aviation regiment. Daily Events January 03 Grigorovich class frigate RFS Admiral Essen held flight deck operations in the Black Sea. A Ka-27PL helicopter conducted 10 landings and take-offs when the vessel was on the move as well as at anchor [ 1 ]. The Ka-27PL helicopter involved was identified as the Yellow-35 and at least one landing was conducted from astern. The crew was also seen training on how to secure the helicopter to the flight deck [ 2 ]. January 07 Logistic support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov was observed passing through the Bosporus and heading towards the Black Sea. The vessel was travelling independently [ 3 ]. Aleksandrit class minehunter RFS Georgy Kurbatov and rescue tug SB-739 Vasily Bekh passed through the Bosporus. The minehu...