Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk07/2023

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 was observed at the port of Tartus. The other vessels of the task force were absent [2].

February 15
The AIS signals of tankers Sig and Yaz were observed southeast of Lemnos and heading south [3].

February 16
Tankers SIG and Yaz were observed west of the Greek island Patmos. Both vessels are on a southeastern course exiting the Aegean Sea [4].

February 17
The AIS signal of fleet oiler Akademik Pashin was observed north of Cyprus. The vessel was heading west with a speed of ten knots [5].

Popular posts from this blog

Russian Naval deployments during the Ukraine War

Image
March 17, 2022 At least six Russian warships were observed near Odessa. The warships maintained their distance and operated on the horizon. March 16, 2022 Several vessels entered the port of Sevastopol including the patrol vessel Vasily Bykov. The Bykov was rumored to be struck and sunk by a Ukrainian grad MLRS barrage near Odessa on March 07 dough this was never officially confirmed.  The visual confirmation of the vessel entering the port of Sevastopol undamaged indicates that if an MLRS attack took place, it did not struck the Bykov. Ropucha class landing vessel Kondopoga of the northern fleet allegedly also entered the port of Sevastopol. March 15, 2022 Several Russian warships and landing ships were spotted on commercial satellite imagery during the morning hours. The vessels were heading in the direction of Odessa.  The vessel leading the formation of landing ships appears to be minesweeper with her sweeping array deployed. During the evening, around 90 missiles were reported fir
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk20/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-18 Weekly Brief A significant reduction in combat strength took place with the departure of Northern and Baltic Fleet warships as well as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This leaves the task force reduced to a detachment of the Pacific Fleet and the frigate Admiral Grigorovich.  The departure also included the two amphibious landing vessels, thus resulting in an end to maritime weapon shipments for Russian mercenary forces stationed in Libya. Daily Events May 11 Civilian oil tanker Okeansky Prospect entered the Mediterranean during the afternoon via the Strait of Gibraltar [ 1 ]. Weapons runner Sparta IV was anchored near Malta and would stay there until May 13th. Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed sailing near Sparta IV [ 2 ]. May 12 Logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov was observed entering the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar at 10.45 local time [ 3 ]. Russian oil tanker Vladimir Mon
Read more

Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk36/2024

Image
Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-07 Weekly Brief Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin, most likely escorted by the frigate Neustrashimy, unexpectedly departed the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Their destination was not reported though several Russian interests are present in the region such as Sudan, Yemen and Iran. A long term Indian Ocean deployment appears to be unlikely since these deployments are almost always handled by vessels of Russia's Pacific Fleet. Improved Kilo class submarine Novorossiysk has been closing in on the Strait of Gibraltar. The submarine and her escorts could be entering the Mediterranean in Week 37. Daily Events September 02 Fleet oiler Akademik Pashin is reported 120 to 140 nautical miles from the entrance of the Suez Canal. The vessel is escorted by an unidentified frigate [ 1 ]. September 03 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus confirmed the presence of Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, frigate Admiral Grigorovich, Stere
Read more