Russian Navy - News and Analysis

On March 20th, 2024; Russia's Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu announced the creation of a so-called Dnieper Flotilla with a brigade of river boats by the end of 2024 [ 1 ]. The exact size and composition of the flotilla was not disclosed at this point, leaving a lot of room for speculation. At this point the declaration to create a Dnieper Flotilla fits within Russia's plans to expand its military organization and further cement its presence in Ukraine and dominance of the Black Sea.  Naval units and tactics Current publications indicate that the Dnieper Flotilla will be equipped with smaller craft operated by Russia's naval forces such as assault and patrol boats and will not include larger vessels such as corvettes or patrol craft such as the Bykov class. Assault and patrol boats can give the Dnieper Flotilla the necessary maneuverability in the maritime domain to protect the entrance of the Dnieper River as well as patrol the approaches of Crimea. 120 Nautical Mile ran

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Mar-30 Weekly Brief Three vessels of the Northern Fleet have entered the Mediterranean in what will most likely be a Syrian Express run transporting military equipment and munitions from the Middle East towards Russia, most likely via Saint Petersburg. Being forced to take the longer route due to Ukrainian drone attacks in the Black Sea, an increase in shipping is needed to secure a steady flow of arms across the Syrian Express. Striking is the fact that frigate Admiral Grigorovich was used to escort the civilian merchants used as weapon runners but did not linger around the Strait of Gibraltar to escort the Northern Fleet detachment. If this pattern becomes the new norm, then the presence of Russian surface vessels in the Western Mediterranean can be used as a marker to indicate the passage of weapon runners. A detachment of the Pacific Fleet, composed of Slava class cruiser Varyag and Udaloy class frigate Marshal Shaposnik

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Mar-23 Weekly Brief Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed near Algiers in the beginning of the week after having escorted two weapon runners and a civilian tanker out of the Mediterranean. It is unclear if the frigate returned to Tartus directly or lingers in the area in anticipation of the landing ships Otrakovsky and Ivan Grenn. Both vessels left the Northern Fleet and were reported in the Bay of Biscay on March 20 together with the fleet oiler Kola [ a ]. It looks like that Russia is restarting the Syrian Express, most likely transporting weapons and ammunition out of the Middle East back to Russia. Closure of the Turkish Straits means that the vessels will have to take the long route around Europe. Intelligence collection vessel Kildin was observed in port, having eluded OSINT reporting for the past four months. Daily Events March 17 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the corvettes Merkur

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Mar-16 Weekly Brief A significant change in operations was observed halfway the week with two weapon runners and a civilian oiler departing the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar. Weapons runners Sparta IV and Ursa Major, together with oiler Yaz usually operate between Syria and Southern Russia but are now observed heading to Saint Petersburg instead. Most likely, these vessels are deviating from their well  established patterns as a result of the growing threat of Ukrainian drones to Russian shipping in the Black Sea. Given the fact that all three vessels are important in sustaining Russia's war efforts, loss of these vessels would grind weapon transports and transfer of fuel to a halt. The deviation of all three vessels to head towards Saint Petersburg is also taking place as new leadership is appointed to the Russian Navy and could be an indication that the new leadership is making a more balanced decision

Northern Fleet March 11 Udaloy class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov entered the Barents Sea to carry out several combat exercises [ 1 ]. March 12 Training with the deep-sea rescue submersible AS-36 took place in the Kola Bay [ 3 ].  March 13 Minesweeper Yadrin held gunnery exercises against simulated sea, air and coastal targets [ 10 ]. March 14 Ka-27 helicopters were deployed in an anti-submarine exercise [ 18 ]. Baltic Fleet March 12 Frigate Neustrashimmy and Steregushchy class corvettes Boiky, Stoiky and Soobrazitelny held air defense exercises in the Baltic Sea [ 4 ]. Zubr class hovercraft Mordovia held an amphibious landing exercise as part of its K-2 training course [ 5 ]. Two landing craft held combat training [ 6 ]. March 13 Frigate Neustrashimmy and Steregushchy class corvettes Boiky, Stoiky and Soobrazitelny held an anti-submarine warfare exercise [ 11 ]. A naval task group made up of the Karakurt class corvette Sovetsk, the Parchim class anti-submarine corvettes Aleksin and 

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Mar-09 Weekly Brief The two most potent Russian assets in the Mediterranean, the submarine Ufa and frigate Grigorovich were absent from port during this week. Both vessels were also reported not present in port during Week 09/2024. It is unclear of both vessels are patrolling or doing combat exercises. Daily Events March 05 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the corvettes Orekhovo-Zuyevo and Merkury as well as the fleet oiler Kama [ 1 ].

Northern Fleet March 05 Grisha class anti-submarine vessels Brest and Snezhnogorsk are in the Barents Sea holding anti-submarine and damage control exercises [ 2 ]. Frigate Admiral Gorshkov held a gunnery and air defense exercise in the Barents Sea [ 7 ]. March 06 Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Levchenko is reported in the Barents Sea holding navigation and general readiness checks [ 8 ]. Baltic Fleet March 04 Intelligence collection vessel Vasiliy Tatishchev returned to the Baltic Sea [ 4 ]. March 05 Frigate Neustrashimy held a com   bat exercise against sea and air targets. Weapon systems used in the exercises were identified as the Kinzhal sea-based anti-aircraft missile system and the Kortik anti-aircraft missile and artillery system [ 5 ]. March 06 Minesweepers Alexander Obukhov and Lev Chernavin held a mine sweeping exercise as part of their K2 training course [ 10 ]. March 08 Submarines Dmitrov and Mozhaisk arrived at Baltiysk during the morning hours following a transit from Kr

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Mar-02 Weekly Brief Increased activity of the task force with the frigate Admiral Grigorovich and corvette Merkury being absent from the port of Tartus. Departure of these vessels could be linked with the expected arrival of the weapons runner Sparta IV and oiler Yaz. Dailly Events February 29 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo and fleet oiler Kama [ 1 ]. Oiler Yaz and weapons runner Sparta IV were detected between Rhodes and Cyrpus. Both vessels are heading in the direction of Syria [ 2 ].