Russian Navy - News and Analysis

  Daily Events February 27 Buyan-M class corvette Zeleny Dol, Karakurt class missile boats Sovetsk and Odintsovo and Tarantul class missile boat Dmitrovgrad departed the naval base at Kaliningrad. The vessels will hold air-defense and anti-ship exercises in the Baltic Sea. A mock naval battle will also take place as part of the exercise. Simulated missile strikes with electronic launches as well as passive jamming will be part of the combat exercise. Additional tasks reportedly also include firing the main guns against naval and air targets, joint maneuvering, communication exercises and anti-sabotage defense while at anchor [ 1 ]. March 02 Tarantul class missile boat Passat held an air defense exercise of Cape Taran. An Akatsiya self-propelled gun fired several air targets which were engaged by the AK-630 and AK-176 gun systems. The exercise was followed by a gunnery exercise against a floating target. The series of exercises were completed with the electronic launch of Malac...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Mar-04 Weekly Brief Naval activity by the task force remains high. Both Steregushchy class corvettes remained at sea while the majority of the task force remained in Tartus. By the end of the week, the Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Kasatonov sailed westwards, escorted by the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin. These vessels will most likely relief the Steregushchy class corvettes.  Altay class fleet oiler Kola entered the Mediterranean at the beginning of the week, boosting the capabilities of the task force to remain at sea for longer periods. Frigate Admiral Gorshkov and her escorting tanker Kama have departed South Africa and are slowly heading towards the Mediterrean via the Mozambique channel. Their arrival is expected in the next two weeks.  Once present in the Mediterranean, it is generally assumed that Admiral Kasatonov and fleet oiler Akademik Pashin will return towards the Northern Fleet. Both Steregushchy class...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Feb-25 Weekly Brief No notable changes regarding the composure and actions of the task force were observed by means of OSINT. The majority of the task force remains at sea, including the Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar which has been missing from the port of Tartus for several weeks. Outside the Mediterranean, the Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Gorshkov has completed her naval exercises at South Africa and is expected to head towards the Mediterranean. Her arrival is expected to occur through the Suez Canal and the upcoming weeks. Daily Events February 19 Two warships were observed at anchor outside the port of Tartus. The vessels were identified as a Gorshkov class frigate and a Buyan-M corvette [ 1 ]. February 21 Frigate Admiral Kasatonov is reported to be the new flagship of the Mediterranean Task Force [ 2 ]. February 24 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus showed several Russian vessels present. These vessels...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Feb-17 Weekly Brief Throughout the week, the Russian task force was deployed at sea with the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin rejoinin the task force during the second half. The mass deployment was most likely done in response to the presence of the US Navy carrier action group centered on the aircraft carrier USS George H. Bush. The carrier task force operated between Cyprus and Crete, only leaving this area somewhere around Friday.  At the same time, two Russian tankers are moving through the Aegean Sea with their destination set for Port Said. It is unknown if the tankers are reporting a fake destination and will swing east towards Tartus. Daily Events February 12 Satellite imagery of the Syrian port of Tartus only showed a Steregushchy class corvette and the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin present inside the harbor. The other vessels of the task force were not observed [ 1 ]. February 14 Only the fleet oiler Akdemik Pashin wa...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Feb-11 Weekly Brief The week started with the majority of the task force moored inside the naval base of Tartus. The fleet oiler Akademik Pashin, presumably still escorting an unidentified Steregushchy class corvette, has been lingering east of Cyprus between, February 6th. to February 8th. This naval activity might be related to the earthquake in Turkey with the Steregushchy class corvette observing the movement of NATO vessels delivering support and aid to the region. February 9 was marked by a mass deployment of the  task force with the exception of Akademik Pashin and a Steregushchy class corvette. This is most likely the corvette which was at sea during week 5 and 6. Submarine Krasnodar has been last observed on January 19th. The submarine could be forward deployed to monitor naval movements in the Eastern Mediterranean. Her endurance however means that she is expected to return to Tartus somewhere in the second hal...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Feb-04 Weekly Brief The Task Force has become more active in recent days with a deployment of the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin towards the Ionian Sea. The oiler is supporting at least one vessel, identified a as a Steregushchy class corvette. Before approaching the Adriatic Sea, the Akademik Pashin turned back and might be setting course back towards the Eastern Mediterranean. Daily Events January 28th Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin was observed in a position 38 Km southeast of Akrotiri. The vessel was on a northeastern course and appears to be refueling a Steregushchy class corvette from an astern position [ 1 ]. January 30th Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin was observed heading southwest at position 34 degrees 57 minutes north by 25 degrees 36,2 minutes east, about 57 kilometers southeast of Lentas, Crete. Once again the fleet oilers is refueling what appears to be a Steregushchy class corvette [ 2 ]. January 31th The AIS Signal of...

February 1 Northern Fleet Marines of the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade held a practical training exercise near the village of Sputnik. Marines trained in firing PKM machine guns from various positions against simulated targets. Experiences gained from the war in Ukraine were reportedly incorporated in the training. The marines also trained in throwing grenades. A detachment of engineers was also active on the training ground. These units in laying and removing land mines [ 1 ]. February 2 Baltic Fleet The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the 336th Naval Infantry Brigade will perform 2.500 parachute jumps as part of the 2023 training program [ 2 ]. February 3 Pacific Fleet The crews of T-80 main battle tanks and BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles are being trained at the Bamburovo training ground. The training is held under the supervision of experienced instructors and include combat experience gained from the war in Ukraine. The terrain is set up to resemble similar areas in...