Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Sep-02 Weekly Brief A possible rotation of forces might have been initiated during this week. The passage of Steregushchy class corvette Merkury went unnoticed by OSINT means but the corvette was later reported present inside the port of Algiers for a three-day port visit. The vessel was traveling solo without an oiler, so the port visit at Algiers might have been needed for refueling and resupply. At the same time, the fleet oiler Vyazma and frigate Admiral Gorshkov have been missing from Tartus for over a week. These vessels are either shadowing the US Carrier Task Group operating in the Eastern Mediterranean or heading back to their homeport after completing their deployment in the Mediterranean. At the same time, the minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov and the logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov have been steadily heading towards the Western Mediterranean. It is unclear if these vessels were to make a rendez-vous with...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Aug-26 Weekly Brief The two most potent intelligence collection vessels, the Krasnodar and the Kildin, are reported at sea, most likely keeping track of NATO movements in the Eastern Mediterranean.   The remainder of the task force was observed in the port of Tartus following a period of escorting high value Russian merchant vessels such as the weapons runner Sparta IV.  Daily Events August 19 With the exception of Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar, the fleet oiler Yelnya and the intelligence collection vessel Kildin, the task force was observed in port at Tartus [ 1 ].

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Aug-19 Weekly Brief The task force provided escort for the weapons runner Sparta IV as it transited from Tartus towards the Bosporus. The escort was provided once again by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This heavy escort could indicate that Russia fears the presence of Ukrainian teams attempting to strike the Sparta IV as it passes through the Aegean Sea. Additional vessels have entered the Mediterranean in the form a fleet oiler and an intelligence collection vessel. It is most likely that the Kildin will track NATO forces in the Mediterranean, however, given the unusual strong fixation of the task force to provide escort for Russian vessels transporting military cargo, it might be possible that the Kildin will linger in the Aegean Sea to provide additional overwatch. Daily Events August 13 Altay class fleet oiler Yelnya and intelligence collection vessel Kildin have passed the Strait of Gibr...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Aug-12 Weekly Brief The Improved Kilo class submarine has been absent from Tartus since August 02, suggesting that the vessel is holding a patrol in the eastern Mediterranean. The weapons runner Sparta IV was observed in Tartus either loading or unloading artillery pieces. Given Russia's losses in artillery in Ukraine, there is a high chance that the Russians are deploying artillery from Syria towards Ukraine. Daily Events August 6 Frigate Admiral Gorshkov, corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo and the weapons runner Sparta IV have arrived inside the port of Tartus, based on commercial satellite imagery [ 1 ]. August 7 All vessels of the task force are reported in Tartus, with the exception of the Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar [ 2 ]. August 8 Imagery of the port of Tartus showed the absence of frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and the Aleksandrit class minehunter Vladimir Emelyanov [ 3 ].

Summery Following a three year hiatus, the Baltic Fleet once again held an Ocean-Shield exercise. Contrary to previous editions, the security situation for Russia in the Baltic Sea has changed significantly due to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Most countries in the Baltic are now on a hostile footing with Russia, compared to a more neutral stance in 2020 when the last Ocean Shield exercise took place. Also, al countries surrounding the Baltic Sea are now either part of NATO or in the process of joining NATO.  Ocean Shield 2023 will thus have to take this new security situation in account. Daily Events August 2 The Russian Ministry of defense reported the start of the Ocean Shield 2023 naval exercise in the Baltic Sea. The exercise is held under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov and will involved around 30 warships, 20 support vessels and 30 aircraft of the naval aviation [ 1 ]. Altay class fleet oiler Yalyna is expected to make ...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Aug-05 Weekly Brief The task force showed unusual naval activity by deploying two warships as an escort for the known weapons runner Sparta IV. Though Russian warships have escorted cargo vessels moving between Russia and Syria in the past, they never deployed two warships of this size to escort one sole cargo vessel. Daily Events August 1 With the exception of frigate Admiral Gorshkov and corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, all vessels of the task force were visually observed moored inside the port of Tartus [ 1 ]. August 2 Cargo vessel Sparta IV, known to transfer weapons between Syria and Russia, was observed passing through the Bosporus and heading towards the Mediterranean [ 2 ]. Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar was no longer observed present inside the port of Tartus [ 3 ]. August 3 Weapons runner Sparta IV appears to have made contact with the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. The warships appear to ...