Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk19/2023

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-13


Weekly Brief

Activity within the task force has been increasing during the week with several vessels heading back out to sea. The Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar have been the most active. The activity could be related to the passage of the merchant vessel Sparta IV which has been observed moving through the eastern Mediterranean on her sixth trip towards Tartus since October, most likely to pick up weapon systems and munitions for use in the war in Ukraine [a].

The small logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Pamorov has entered the Mediterranean as well. It will be interesting to see if the vessel will remain in the Mediterranean or will be allowed to pass the Turkish Straits to head back to her homebase on the Black Sea.

A small task force from the Pacific Fleet might be heading to reinforce the Mediterranean Squadron. The task force consists of the Steregushchy class corvettes Sovershennyy and Gromkiy and are supported by a Dubna class fleet oiler [b]. The Russian Ministry of Defense has so far not reported on these vessels so it is unknown if they remain in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Daily Events

May 6
Satellite imagery of the Port of Tartus showed several warships moored inside the harbor. These were identified as the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov, corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo and the fleet oiler Kola [1].

May 8
Satellite imagery of the Port of Tartus showed several warships moored inside the harbor. These were identified as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Aleksandrit class minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov and the fleet oiler Kola [1].

May 11
Satellite imagery of the Port of Tartus showed several warships moored inside the harbor. These were identified as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo and the fleet oiler Kola [2].

May 13
The logistic support vessel Vice Admiral Pamorov and the ocean going tug Sergei Balk passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. The passage was reported around 7:30 local time [3] [4].

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