Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk34/2022
Task Force Composition
Weekly Brief
A significant part of the task force withdrew from the Mediterranean with the departure of Northern Fleet warships. Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov, Udaloy class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kunikov and fleet oiler Vyazma passed into the Atlantic Ocean via the Strait of Gibraltar, ending a six month long deployment that started on February-11. Frigate Admiral Kasatonov was however not spotted leaving the Mediterranean.
Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin in turn entered the Mediterranean and will most likely take over the supporting role that was previously provided by the Vyazma.
Daily Events
August 23
Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin of the Northern Fleet passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean [1].
August 24
Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov passed the Strait of Gibraltar and left the Mediterranean during the afternoon [2] [3]. The presence of the other Northern Fleet vessels, destroyer Vice-Admiral Kunikov and frigate Admiral-Kasatonov, was not reported.
Rescue tug Altay entered the Mediterranean during the afternoon by passing through the Strait of Gibraltar [4].
Fleet oiler Vyazma was last reported west of Oran, Algiers, at the entrance of the Albion Sea. The AIS signal of the vessel was received around 17:00 local time.