Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk20/2022

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 exercise. According to the training situation, a fuel spill took place in the helicopter hangar which spread to the helideck. The ship's crew blanketed the helideck with protective foam [2].

Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed on satellite imagery in the central Aegean Sea during the morning. The frigate most likely is escorting the tankers Sig and Yaz as they are heading towards the Dardanelles [3].

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