Russian forces in the Mediterranean - Wk20/2024

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 Monomakh was visually observed in the Strait of Gibraltar, leaving the Mediterranean [4].

May 14
Oil tanker Yaz entered the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar. The passage was visually observed at 11am local time [5].

May 15
Satellite imagery revealed the presence of a Russian task force 110km west to southwest of Rota Spain. The task force comprises the corvettes Merkury and Orekhovo-Zuyevo, the amphibious assault vessels Ivan Gren and Aleksandr Otrakovsky, the intelligence collection vessel Kildin and the fleet oiler Kama [6].

May 17
Weapon runner Sparta IV has been visually observed leaving the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar at 0845 local time [7].

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