Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May 28 Weekly Brief Confirmed reports regarding Russia's naval movements remain low as most sources speculate that the Russian Navy is back to operating two surface action groups, SAG, near Crete with each SAG being centered on a Slava class cruiser.  NATO forces have started their naval exercise Neptune Spear in the central Mediterranean which could be the reason why Russian is back to operating two SAGs instead of the relative calm of the past weeks where one SAG was reported active south of Crete. Daily Events May 23 Frigate Admiral Grigorovich and fleet oiler Vyazma are reported in the port of Tartus, Syria [ 1 ].

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May 21 Weekly Brief The vessels of the Northern Fleet have settled into a normal rhythm with regular training exercises taking place on board. Focus of these exercises were on damage control. Intelligence  collection vessel Vasiliy Tatishchev was spotted after an absence of four months. The vessel was last seen in the Central Mediterranean where it refueled from fleet oiler Vyazma. Vasiliy Tatishchev most likely operates as a first line of detection, registering NATO vessels moving from the western Mediterranean towards the eastern part. Daily Events May 15 Intelligence collection vessel Vasiliy Tatishchev and fleet oiler Vyazma were spotted on satellite imagery in the Sicilian Strait. The vessels are engaged in a resupply at sea with Vyazma refueling the Vasiliy Tatishchev [ 1 ]. May 17 Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov and Udaloy class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov were reported at sea conducting a fire fighting exe...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May 14 Weekly Brief The majority of the Russian task force remains near the Syrian port of Tartus with a small naval group comprised of a Slava class cruiser and two frigates operating at sea. These vessels are believed to operate near Crete as they have been in the past two months. There have been however no recent sightings reported near Crete, making it difficult to establish where these Russian vessels are patrolling. The arrival of a Russian tanker at Tartus, presumed to be either Sig or Yaz, is an anomaly as these vessels normally discharge at Baniyas. It is possible that this tanker is discharging at Tartus in order to directly supply the Mediterranean Task Force with refined fuel for future operations. Varyag and her group remained at Tartus at the beginning of the week. These vessels, Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs and fleet oiler Boris Butoma, have been deployed from Vladivostok since December. In normal co...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May 07 Weekly Brief After spending several weeks at sea, both surface action groups returned to the port of Tartus; Syria, for rest and resupply. Their time in this area appears to have been relative short as the frigate Admiral Kasatonov was back at sea halfway the week. Daily Events May 01 Several Russian warships remain reported in or near the port of Tartus, Syria. The vessels inside the port are believed to be the Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Kasatonov, Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zueyvo, Alexandrite class minehunter Vladimir Yemelyanov, logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov and rescue tug Sergei Balk. The vessels outside the harbor are reported as fleet oiler Vyazma, Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov and Udaloy class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov as well as fleet oiler Boris Butoma. Reported at sea are the Slava class cruiser Varyag, Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs, Grigorovich class frigate Admi...