Russian Navy - News and Analysis

B altic Fleet January 29 Amur class repair vessel PM-82 arrived at its homeport of Baltiysk during the morning completing a deployment in the Mediterranean [ 1 ]. It's escort, the rescue tug Sergey Balk is heading towards Kronstadt and was observed northeast of Gotland during the afternoon [ 2 ]. January 30 Steregushchy class corvette Boiky was at sea performing helicopter operations with around 20 deck landings taking place while the corvette was drifting and underway, both during the day as during the night [ 4 ]. Mi-24 'Hind' attack helicopters were involved in a combat exercise attacking targets in the Baltic Sea. The helicopters engaged targets simulating hostile small-sized speedboats [ 5 ]. February 1 Several vessels of the Baltic Fleet held an air defense exercise where the fleet repelled a simulated drone attack [ 10 ]. February 2 Divers and the crew of the destroyer Nastoychivyy held a ship-repair exercise where divers were send to plug a hole in the hull. Later d...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-27 Weekly Brief Russia continues to exchange weapons for grain with the Syrian Regime. The presence of the weapons runner Ursa Major together with transport ship Zaid/Zafar carrying grain in the port of Tartus indicates that this trade is still ongoing. The presence of both vessels caused the task force to shift berths in order to accommodate both transport ships. Daily Events January 20 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of frigates Merkury and Orekhovo-Zuyevo, submarine Ufa and fleet oiler Kama. Also present was the weapons runner Ursa Major [ 1 ].

  Baltic Fleet January 22 Amur class repair vessel PM-82 and rescue tug Sergey Balk remain in the Bay of the Seine, probably until the weather in the North Sea has cleared for an easier passage towards the Baltic Sea [ 1 ]. January 24 Lada class submarine Kronstadt is reportedly commissioned into the Baltic Fleet [ 2 ]. January 27 Amur class repair vessel PM-82 and rescue tug Sergey Balk were visually observed entering the Baltic Sea [ 3 ]. Kaliningrad January 22 200 signalmen trained in setting up alternative means of communications after a simulated enemy suppressed normal means of communication [ a ]. January 26 Around 100 soldiers were enrolled in a class on how to perform reconnaissance and transmit enemy positions and troops [ b ].

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-20 Weekly Brief PM-82 departed the Mediterranean following a shorter then usual deployment then previously observed for Amur class repair vessels. It seems unlikely that another repair vessel will take its place. Two capable Amur class repair vessels are known to operate in the Black Sea but the closing of the Turkish Straits prevent these ships from reaching the Mediterranean. Events in the Red Sea have shifted OSINT resources away from the Eastern Mediterranean, leading to a loss of coverage. Daily Events January 15 The AIS signal of rescue tug Sergey Balk was reported in the Strait of Gibraltar, heading west towards the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel is escorting the Russian repair vessel PM-82 [ 1 ].

Baltic Fleet January 19 Amur class repair vessel PM-82 and rescue tug Sergey Balk have started their transit through the English Channel and are heading towards the Baltic Sea following a deployment in the Mediterranean [ 1 ]. January 20 The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that 10 crews have completed the training shedule of daily ship operations while the vessel is moored inside the base. The next stage will involve the K-2 task which involve ship-operations while at sea. The fleet can thus be expected to head out to sea to train combat operations in the near future [ 2 ]. January 21 Amur class repair vessel PM-82 and rescue tug Sergey Balk are sheltering in the Bay of the Seine to avoid the bad weather created by Storm Isha [ 3 ]. Kaliningrad January 15 A company of snipers was reported active at one of the training ranges for regular firing exercises [ a ]. A company of Naval Infantry was active at a training range in Kaliningrad. The unit trained in small arms firing in coopera...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-13 Weekly Brief The task force continues the pattern of remaining in port with the absence of the intelligence collection vessel Kildin and the repair vessel PM-82. Repair vessel PM-82 is heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar and leaving the Mediterranean after completing its deployment. There are unconfirmed rumors that the captain of the vessel committed suicide, though this information is not verified. Daily Events January 09 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, the frigate Admiral Grigorovich, corvettes Merkury and Orekhovo-Zuyevo and fleet oiler Kama [ 1 ]. January 12 Repair vessel PM-82 is reported in a location between Tunis and Algiers and heading on a southwestern course towards the Strait of Gibraltar [ 2 ]. There are unconfirmed reports that the captain of the vessel committed suicide [ 3 ].

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Jan-06 Weekly Brief OSINT sources reported almost no naval movement of the Russian task force. The repair vessel PM-82 could be departing the Mediterranean and completing a 4-month deployment. This early departure is unusual as Amur class repair vessels are known to easily spend more then 6 months deployed in the Mediterranean. Daily Events January 05 Amur class repair vessel PM-82 departed the naval base of Tartus and could be heading back to the Baltic Sea [ 1 ]. The vessel could be sailing together with the rescue tug Sergey Balk [ 2 ].