Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Oct-01 Weekly Brief The departure of the Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk continues the trend that the Russian Task Force is decreasing its activity in the Mediterranean. The high pace of deterrence patrols around Crete in the first months of the Russian invasion of Ukraine most likely result in a higher degree of attrition causing the need to conduct maintenance at specialized shipyards. The Pacific Fleet task force has been observed being at anchor near the port of Tartus. Both the Slava Class cruiser Varyag and the Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs show limited activity in recent weeks. Both vessels departed Vladivostok in December last year. Just as with the Krasnodar, the possibility of both these surface vessels departing back to their home base for maintenance and repairs increases with each week. So far, there have been no indications that both vessels will depart soon.  The position of the Yasen c...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-24 Weekly Brief Additional naval movements keep suggesting that the Russian task force is standing down. The departure of the intelligence collection vessel Vasiliy Tatishchev on September 19th has decreased Russia's ability to keep track of NATO maritime movements while the presence of the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin near Cyprus suggests that the task force is once again operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. Rescue tug Sergey Balk continued her westward journey towards the Strait of Gibraltar while escorting a Kilo class submarine. The submarine is presumed to be the Krasnodar which has been operating in the Mediterranean since August 31st 2021. The submarine could be in need of a modernization and refit following a year of operations. Daily Events September 19 The AIS signal of fleet oiler Akademik Pashin is reported south of Cyprus with the vessel being on an eastern course. It is most likely that the vessel is ...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-17 Weekly Brief The presence of the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin in the northern Ionian Sea suggest a small Russian task force is operating in this area. Both the Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs and Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Kasatonov were previously not observed in the port of Tartus, Syria. It is most likeley that both vessels form a small task force to keep track of the US Navy carrier group centered on the aircraft carrier USS George Bush. Rescue tug Sergei Balk has been steadily moving westwards from the Eastern towards the Central Mediterranean. IT is assumed that the vessel will continue heading west towards Algeria. It is unknow if the vessel will make a port visit or will be waiting there to escort a new Russian vessel from Gibraltar towards Tartus. The position of the Yasen class attack submarine Severodvinsk was not reported through OSINT as no specific maritime patrol missions stood out to keep tra...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-10 Weekly Brief The unidentified Russian submarine in the Mediterranean is reported as the Yasen class attack submarine Severodvinsk. The boat was last reported near Malta and new reports about its location were not made public. The submarine could either go towards Tartus and join the Mediterranean task force or move into the Adriatic Sea to shadow the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George Bush. The majority of the task force was once again assembled at Tartus, Syria, with only destroyer Admiral Tributs and frigate Admiral Kasatonov being unreported and most likely at sea. Daily Events September 04 The Russian nuclear powered submarine inside the Mediterranean is identified as the attack submarine Severodvinsk of the Yasen class [ 1 ]. The identification was reported by SubBrief, based on statements made by the Italian Navy. Tankers Sig and Yaz are reported moored inside the port of Tartus [ 2 ]. September 07 Several Russ...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-03 Weekly Brief An unidentified submarine has entered the Mediterranean, the vessel is presumed to be a Russian nuclear powered submarine though official confirmation has yet to be released. NATO maritime patrol aircraft have been able to keep track of the submarine as it moved from the Strait of Gibraltar towards the Central Mediterranean. Daily Events August 27 Two P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft of the US Navy were reported conducting a search flight just east of the Strait of Gibraltar [ 1 ]. Meanwhile, French FREMM frigate Bretagne was conducting military operations at the eastern end of the Strait [ 2 ]. It is possible that a Russian submarine made a transit through the Strait of Gibraltar while being submerged. September 01 Two British P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft departed the Sigonella airbase on Sicily and conducted a mission over the Strait of Sicily [ 3 ]. The aircraft could be looking for an unid...