Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jul 01 Weekly Brief Little naval activity is reported during the week by OSINT channels but it appears that the Pacific Fleet Surface Action Group continues to operate near Tartus, Syria. The Northern Fleet SAG operates most likely near Crete. There is a possibility that the task force will become more active and providing an escort for Russian ships carrying Ukrainian grain towards Syria. Daily Events June 29 A Slava class cruiser was observed via satellite imagery as it departed the port of Tartus, Syria [ 1 ]. An Udaloy class destroyer was also observed near the port of Tartus with the fleet oiler Boris Butoma located behind it [ 2 ].

Weekly Brief Limited naval activity took place on June 29 and 30th with a task force of four vessels conducting naval and air defense exercises against simulated targets. In total, two Steregushchy class corvettes and two Nanuchka class missile boats were involved. Naval aviation aircraft trained in their secondary roles in providing air support for ground troops. Up to  Su-24 and Su-30SM aircraft were involved dropping bombs on training ranges at Kaliningrad. Sovremennyy class destroyer Nastoychivy  made the transfer to Kronstadt towards Baltiysk under tow. The destroyer is expected to dock at Yantar for the completion of its maintenance. Daily Events June 27 Several warships of the Russian Navy were observed moored inside the Kronstadt naval base near Saint Petersburg [ 1 ]. The vessels observed included two Steregushchy class corvettes, Sovremennyy class destroyer Bespokoynyy, Kilo class submarine Dmitrov, a Lada class submarine and a Tarantul class missile boat. June 28 So...

Weekly Brief Russian naval activity in de Baltic Sea winded down as NATO's Baltops2022 exercises ended. Several exercises were held but most vessels returned back to base with the exception of three vessels heading towards Saint Petersburg. Naval activity is expected to remain low in the coming weeks as the Russian Navy prepares for the Navy Day parade in Saint Petersburg. Daily Events June 20 Steregushchy class corvette Soobrazitelny conducted a tactical exercise in the Baltic Sea. The corvette engaged a simulated hostile warship with the Uran anti-ship missiles, however it is not reported if the launch was an actual one or a simulated one. The exercise was followed up with an air defense exercise which saw the use of the AK-190mm main gun system. Additional exercises later during the day included electronic warfare, damage control, anti-sabotage and setting up communications with other warships [ 1 ]. June 21 Parachim class anti-submarine corvettes Kazanets and Urengoy, together ...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jun 24 Weekly Brief The Russian task force in the Mediterranean has eased its combat stance with only one surface action group operating at sea by the end of the week and a second one being stationed at the Syrian port of Tartus. Observation of the vessels at Tartus suggest that the SAG group anchored at Tartus is the one of the Pacific Fleet, based on the absence of the Northern Fleet's frigate Admiral Kasatonov and the presence of the Pacific Fleet's oiler Boris Butoma. Daily Events June 18 The AIS signal of fleet oiler Vyazma was last reported southeast of Cyprus. The vessel departed the port of Tartus on June 16th and is on a course of 244 degrees with a speed of 10.7 knots. June 21 Fleet oiler Vyazma was observed at 0910Z on commercial satellite imagery operating south of Crete. The oiler was sailing in front of a Slava class cruiser indicating that she was refueling the cruiser from the stern. The identity of t...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jun 18 Weekly Brief During the week, the Russian task force changed its deployment from patrol and deterrence to one of naval exercises with the focus on naval warfare. This behavior is in line with that of the other Russian fleets were naval combat exercises are taking place in accordance with the yearly summer training programs. Daily Events June 14 A large scale naval exercise was held at an unspecified area of the Eastern Mediterranean that involved the warships of the Northern and Pacific Fleets. Slava class cruisers Varyag and Marshal Ustinov operated as part of a strike group, launching missiles against a simulated hostile task force. Meanwhile, Udaloy class destroyers Vice-Admiral Kulakov and Admiral Tributs formed their own strike group and executed an anti-submarine exercise. Their search was aided by the use of their Ka-27 ship-borne helicopters. Both exercises reportedly took place in international waters away fr...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jun 04 Weekly Brief The Surface Action Group centered on the Northern Fleet was observed by the end of the week as it left the Syrian port of Tartus. The SAG is made up of the Slava class cruiser Marchal Ustinov, Udaloy class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov and Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Kasatonov. The presence of the Admiral Kasatonov allowed for the identification of this SAG. Reporting of the Mediterranean Task Force by OSINT sources remain low with priority still being given to maritime events in the Black Sea. Several reports continue to work with too many assumptions regarding area of operations and composition of the surface action groups. Daily Events June 02 Several Russian warships are reported leaving the port of Tartus, Syria. These included a Slava class cruiser, an Udaloy class destroyer and a Gorshkov class frigate [ 1 ].  Only one Gorshkov class frigate operates in the Mediterranean, the Northern Fleet...