Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Apr-27 Weekly Brief Weapons transports between Syria and Libya are continuing with a regular pace with a third delivery completed at the beginning of the week. Weapon deliveries are rumored to be destined for Russia's Afrika Korps operating in Libya. Sparta IV, a known weapon runner between Syria and Russia has reappeared in the Mediterranean, coming from Saint Petersburg. It is unclear if this vessel is already carrying weapons or if it is picking up a new delivery in Syria. It will be interesting to see if the Sparta IV will reinforce the Libyan Express or remain on the Syrian Express between Syria and Russia. Daily Events April 21 Satellite imagery indicate that the amphibious landing vessels Ivan Gren and Alexander Otrakovsky are departing the port of Tobruk, Libya. Steregushchy class corvette Merkury is believed to provide an escort [ 1 ]. April 24 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus, Syria, confirmed the presen...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Apr-19 Weekly Brief Russia's Mediterranean Task Force remained active in the beginning of the week with a second and third weapons shipment between Syria and Libya in what is now dubbed the "Libyan Express". It remains unclear by OSINT means if the weapons will be used by the Libyan National Army under Field Marshal Haftar or the units of the Russian "Afrika Corps" though the latter is more likely. The weapon shipments between Syria and Libya also indicate that Russia is now giving priority to support its goals in Libya, rather then transfer weapon systems to Russia proper for use in the in war in Ukraine. The majority of the task force was also observed absent from port on April 16th. OSINT was unable to provide follow up making it unclear if the task force is deployed for an exercise or providing cover for the third run of the Libyan Express. Daily Events April 14 Udaloy class frigate Marshal Shapos...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Apr-13 Weekly Brief Russia surprisingly acted as a middleman between Syria and Libya by providing the means to deliver artillery from Syria to the Haftar regime in eastern Libya. The move is surprising because of the huge artillery losses Russia is suffering in Ukraine for over a year now. The clear motives behind this act are unclear and can range from Russia seeking to strengthen its position across Africa by propping up regimes or from Syria deciding to rather support Libya then Russia with military equipment.  Daily Events April 06 Amphibious landing vessels Alexander Otrakovsky and Ivan Gren departed the port of Tartus, Syria [ 1 ]. April 08 Frigate Admiral Grigorovich reportedly provided an escort for the amphibious landing vessels Alexander Otrakovsky and Ivan Gren as they passed between Cyprus and Greece [ 1 ]. Both amphibious landing vessels reportedly arrived in the Port of Tobruk, Libya to offload ar...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Apr-06 Weekly Brief Activity of the task force has increased significantly following the influx of Northern and Pacific Fleet warships. The coming days will create clarity of Russia is restarting the Syrian Express runs, this time between Tartus and Saint Petersburg, in earnest. Amphibious landing vessel Ivan Gren was last observed in Tartus either unloading or being loaded. Slava class cruiser Varyag arrived in the Mediterranean while the Udaloy class destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov completed a port visit in Eritrea. The destroyer might enter the Mediterranean somewhere around April 5th or 6th, given the presence of fleet oiler Kama at Alexandria. Often fleet oiler linger near the Suez canal to be ready to refuel and escort Russian warships coming from the Red Sea.  Frigate Admiral Grigorovich, Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa and intelligence collection vessel Kildin were not observed at Tartus during the week. There w...