Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk52/2023

Task Force Composition

As reported by OSINT at the morning of Dec-30


Weekly Brief
The deployment of the Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa remains unknown. The submarine arrived at the naval base at Tartus together with the rescue tug Sergey Balk. The submarine will most likely stay in port to allow the crew some rest and recuperation. It is unclear if the submarine will continue her transit towards the Pacific Fleet together with the Sergey Balk or if she will spend a combat patrol of several months in the Eastern Mediterranean. The lack of Russian submarines available suggests the latter.

The departure of the fleet oiler Yelnya limits the operational support for the task force. It seems unlikely with only one fleet oiler available that the task force will deploy ships in the Red Sea though it could rely on the harbor facilities at Port Sudan to support such a deployment.

Daily Events
December 27
Rescue tug Sergey Balk was located 30 nautical miles south of Akrotiri during the afternoon. The rescue tug is escorting the Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa towards the Syrian naval base at Tartus [1].

December 28
The AIS signal of rescue tug is reported in a position halfway Cyprus and Tartus. The vessel is heading on a course of 60 degrees with a speed of 8 nautical miles [2].

December 29
Fleet oiler Yelnya is reported in the Alboran Sea during the early morning and is heading in a western direction towards the Strait of Gibraltar [3].

Fleet oiler Yelnya passed the Strait of Gibraltar and departed the Mediterranean. The passage took place around 18:30 local time [4].

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