Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk14/2024

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 whereabouts are unknown.

Daily Events
April 01
Slava class cruiser Varyag entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal [1] [2].

Frigate Admiral Grigorovich reportedly escorted the detachment of the Northern Fleet as it moved between Greece and Cyprus [3].

April 02
Amphibious landing vessels Ivan Gren and Aleksandr Otrakovsky, together with fleet oiler Kola are reported at the port of Tartus. Their approach to the port was scouted by Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft [4].

Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus confirmed the presence of the corvettes Merkury and Orekhovo-Zuyevo as well as the landing vessels Ivan Gren and Aleksandr Otrakovsky moored inside the port [5].

April 03
The cruiser Varyag is anchored outside the port  of Tartus together with fleet oiler Kola while corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo has departed the port of Tartus [6].

April 04
The AIS signal of fleet oiler Kama was reported at Alexandria, Egypt [7].


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