Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk39/2022

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 class nuclear submarine Severodvinsk has not yet been reestablished through the means of OSINT. She will most likely keep close to large NATO formations in order to create a deterrence.

Daily Events

September 24
Rescue tug Sergey Balk and an Improved Kilo class submarine passed through the Strait of Gibraltar around 08:45 local time and entered into the Atlantic Ocean [1] [2].
The submarine was later identified as the Novorossiysk. The identification was done by the French Navy when the submarine passed through the Gulf of Gascogne [5].

September 25
Slave class cruiser Varyag arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus and has anchored outside the port [3].

September 27
Slava class cruiser Varyag was observed on satellite imagery while at anchor near the Syrian port of Tartus [3].

September 28
An Udaloy class destroyer was observed on satellite imagery near the Syrian port of Tartus. The destroyer is anchored south of the Slava class cruiser Varyag [4].
Currently, only the destroyer Admiral Tributs is active in the Mediterranean.

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