Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-25 Weekly Brief Steregushchy class corvette Merkury remains present in the Mediterranean. Previous reporting that the vessel had departed the Mediterranean with a group of Northern and Baltic Fleet warships proved to be erroneous. The corvette was observed in Tartus this week. A large scale deployment of the surface warships was observed on May 24th with all surface combatants, with the exception of the Udaloy class frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, being absent from the port of Tartus. Daily Events May 20 Logisitic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov is expected to arrive at Tartus on midday [ 1 ]. May 22 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus confirmed the presence of Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, Frigate Admiral Grigorovich, Steregushchy class corvette Merkury, fleet oiler Kola and logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov [ 2 ]. May 24 Satellite imagery of the Syrian port of Tartus revealed the presence of the I...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-18 Weekly Brief A significant reduction in combat strength took place with the departure of Northern and Baltic Fleet warships as well as the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This leaves the task force reduced to a detachment of the Pacific Fleet and the frigate Admiral Grigorovich.  The departure also included the two amphibious landing vessels, thus resulting in an end to maritime weapon shipments for Russian mercenary forces stationed in Libya. Daily Events May 11 Civilian oil tanker Okeansky Prospect entered the Mediterranean during the afternoon via the Strait of Gibraltar [ 1 ]. Weapons runner Sparta IV was anchored near Malta and would stay there until May 13th. Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed sailing near Sparta IV [ 2 ]. May 12 Logistic support vessel Vice-Admiral Paromov was observed entering the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar at 10.45 local time [ 3 ]. Russian oil tanker Vladimir...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-11 Weekly Brief Russian activity is increasing in the Mediterranean with a possible 4th Libyan express run between Tartus and Tobruk. Additional civilian vessels are entering the Mediterranean with the oil tanker General Skobelev heading into the Central Mediterranean and oil tanker Yaz moving out of the English Channel heading southwards towards the Strait of Gibraltar. It remains unclear how the Russian build up of supporting vessels and deliveries fits int he larger strategic framework. The Russian Federation is struggling to maintain momentum on the Ukrainian battlefield but is actively rerouting military resources to its forces in Libya, including military material from Syria and possible fuel shipments. Daily Events May 04 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, the frigates Marshal Shaposhnikov and Admiral Grigorovich, Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo,...