Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk31/2023

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 provide escort for the Sparta IV. The group was last observed 16 km west of the Greek island Antipsara [4].

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