Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk06/2023

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 half of February.

Daily Events

February 4
Satellite imagery of the naval base at Tartus in Syria showed several warships moored inside the port. The vessels were identified as the frigates Admiral Kasatonov and Admiral Grigorovich, the corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, the minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov and an unidentified Steregushchy class corvette [1]

February 5
Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin is reported in an area east of Cyprus [2].

February 7
Satellite imagery of the naval base at Tartus in Syria showed several warships moored inside the port. The vessels were identified as the frigates Admiral Kasatonov and Admiral Grigorovich, the corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, the minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov and an unidentified Steregushchy class corvette. The AIS signal of the fleet oiler Akademik Pashin was also detected as still being east of Cyprus [3].

February 9
Only two vessels were identified inside the naval base of Tartus. These were the vessels Akademik Pashin and a Steregushchy class corvette [4].

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