Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk28/2023

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jul-15

Weekly Brief

Only the Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Gorshkov appears to be active in the Mediterranean with the remainder of the task force staying inside the port of Tartus.

The reason for the deployment of the Admiral Gorshkov is unknown. On one hand a US Navy carrier group is holding exercises near Albania which in the past drew the attention of Russian surface vessels. On the other hand, a high value cargo vessels, presumably loaded with stolen Ukrainian grain, is moving through the Aegean Sea and heading towards Tartus. The Admiral Gorshkov was already observed escorting high value merchant ships in the previous weeks.

Daily Events

July 8th
Satellite imagery of Tartus showed the absence of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov. Present inside the port were the corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov, Kilo class submarine Krasnodar, fleet oiler Vyazma, logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paramov and rescue tug  Sergey Balk [1]

July 10th
Satellite imagery revealed that the entire task force was moored inside the port of Tartus [2].

July 13th
Almost the entire task force was observed inside the port of Tartus, with the exception of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov [3].

July 14th
The bulk carrier Matros Shevchenko was observed 21 kilometers southwest of Bozcaada in the Aegean Sea. The vessel was heading southwest and has Tartus as final destination [4].

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