Russian Navy - News and Analysis

The Russian Navy held a major naval exercise called "July Storm" in the period between July 23 and July 27 which involved the participation of all its fleets, except the Black Sea Fleet. The purpose of the exercise, as stated by the Russian Navy, was to test the readiness of its fleets in 'non standard operations', the use of long range weapons, unmanned systems, and the use of advanced and modern weapons. From an operational point of view, the exercise involved vessels moving to their combat areas and engage in anti-submarine operations, set up base defense, and defend areas of maritime and economic importance. Simulated air and naval attacks had to be repelled with an emphasis on drone warfare. Daily Events July 23 Russian media reports the start of operation 'July Storm' link . Baltic Fleet A battalion sized unit of naval infantry or around 300 soldiers, were deployed to the  Khmelevka  training grounds for a coastal defense exercise. During the march to th...

 

  Northern Fleet Monday July 07 Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft flew anti-submarine training missions over the Barents Sea with an unidentified submarine playing the part of a simulated hostile submarine. The focus of the training flights was on searching for and detecting submarines using several various instruments and systems link . Tuesday July 08 Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov deployed to the Barents Sea for basic training. The crew focused on daily tasks while at sea. Naval exercises involved a simulated missile strike against a simulated enemy task force and gunnery exercises against a simulated USV attack link . Thursday July 10 Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Levchenko deployed to the Barents Sea for several combat exercises. The exercises involved establishing radio contact with other units, anti-submarine evasion drills, and coordination with helicopters link . Baltic Fleet Monday July 07 Buyan-M class corvettes Naro-Fominsk, Zeleny Dol and Serpukhov simulated th...

Weekly Overview Northern Fleet Tuesday July 01 A Tu-142 maritime patrol flight conducted an 11-hour long patrol over the Barents Sea link . Wednesday July 02 Minesweeper Kotelnich is holding mine countermeasure exercises with the vessel searching for and destroying simulated minefields. The vessel will also hold damage control exercises link . Baltic Fleet Monday June 30 Steregushchy class corvette Boiky held electronic launches of its Uran anti-ship missiles against a group of simulated enemy warships. The exercise was followed up by air defense and electronic warfare exercises link . The vessel was later observed departing the Baltic Sea while escorting the weapons runner Sparta and tanker General Skobelev link . Anti-drone exercises took place at the naval bases of Baltiysk and Saint-Petersburg with Su-27 fighters simulating an UAV attack against the naval bases. Base units set up air defense and electronic warfare measures to repel the simulated airstrike link . Vasily Byk...

Weekly Overview Northern Fleet Monday June 23 Grisha class anti-submarine corvettes Snezhnogorsk and Onega of the Kola Flotilla were reported training in the Barents Sea. Both corvettes were tasked with laying a minefield while under air attack. The corvettes used man portable air defense systems and ship mounted air defense systems to repel the simulated air attack link . Tuesday June 24 The Northern Fleet started search and rescue exercises in the Barents Sea which involve the submarine rescue vessel Georgy Titov and rescue submarine AS-36. The exercises will involve searching for simulated sunken vessels and divers operating at depths of 40 meters link .  A Tu-142MK anti-submarine maritime patrol aircraft landed at Severomorsk-1 link . Udaloy class destroyers Severomorsk and Admiral Levchenko were visually observed in port link . Wednesday June 25 Borei-A class submarine Knyaz Pozharskiy was visually observed departing Severomorsk link . Friday June 27 Udaloy class des...

Weekly Overview Northern Fleet Wednesday June 18 Two Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft were deployed over the Barents Sea during an anti-submarine training exercise. The aircraft were tasked to search for simulated enemy submarines, a role played by several submarines of the Northern Fleet link . Friday June 20 An unidentified Udaloy class destroyer of the Northern Fleet entered the Baltic Sea link . The vessel was later reported as the Vice-Admiral Kulakov link . Baltic Fleet Monday June 16 A combat exercise was held involving the Buyan-M class corvettes Naro-Fominsk, Zeleny Dol and Serpukhov. All three vessels held electronic/simulated launches against coastal targets of a simulated enemy. At the same time, Bastion anti-ship missile systems were deployed and simulated launches against seaborn targets before relocation to new firing positions link . Parachim class anti-submarine corvettes Aleksin and Kabardino-Balkaria held tactical exercises at the Baltic Fleet training grounds. The...

  Daily Events May 29 Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed on satellite imagery while anchored near the Syrian port of Tartus link .

  Daily Overview Wednesday May 14th Russian sea going tug Evgeniy Churov entered the English Channel during the afternoon link . Thursday May 15th Russian sea going tug Evgeniy Churov departed the English Channel at the Ushant TSS during the afternoon link . 

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-12 Weekly Brief The Russian Navy appears to have established a refueling point northwest of Al Hoceima, Morocco in order to support out of area operations by the Russian Navy. Steregushchy class corvette Boiky made use of this refueling point on May 12th to refuel before heading back to the Atlantic Ocean and heading south along the African coast, while escorting two Russian merchant vessels. The arrival of the sea going tug Evgeniy Churov might indicate a new submarine deployment in the Mediterranean. Previously, this tug supported the Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar during her deployment in the Western Mediterranean. Daily Events May 12 Russian Steregushchy class corvette Boiky and Russian cargo vessels Siyanie Severa and Patria entered the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar during the morning hours link . The vessels then proceeded to an area northwest of Al Hoceima, Morocco where the corvette Boiky...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of May-05 Weekly Brief OSINT sources report minimal naval activity in the Mediterranean. It appears that Russia is still in the process of evacuating military equipment from Syria as a new weapons runner, the Ascalon, was observed entering the Mediterranean.  Frigate Admiral Grigorovich remains on station close to the port of Tartus. The frigate has been at sea since December with almost no port visits. Daily Events April 29 Russian RoRo vessel Ascalon was observed passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and entering the Mediterranean link . May 4 Frigate Admiral Grigorovich was observed via satellite imagery in a position about 17 kilometers northwest of Tartus, Syria link .

  Daily Events Friday May 2nd Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and rescue tug Evgeniy Churov have started to transit the English Channel in the direction of the North Sea link .

Out of Area Deployments Tuesday April 29th Stereguschy class corvettes Rezky and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, together with fleet oiler Pechenga, arrived in the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia  link . Thursday May 1st Russian cargo vessels Baltic Leader, Siyanie Servera and Patria are reported east of Bronholm island. The vessels are escorted by Steregushchy class corvette Boiky link . Friday May 2nd Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and rescue tug Evgeniy Churov have started to transit the English Channel in the direction of the North Sea  link . Steregushchy class corvette Boiky departed the Baltic Sea together with the cargo vessels Baltic Leader and Patria link . Saturday May 3rd Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and rescue tug Evgeniy Churov completed their transit through the English Channel and entered the North Sea link . Sunday May 4th Steregushchy class corvette Boiky entered the North Sea together with the cargo vessels Baltic Leader, Siy...

Daily Events April 15th The Russian ministry of defense reports that the Russian Baltic Fleet has started a naval exercise aimed to protect civilian maritime traffic against UAV, USV and submarine attacks. The exercise will involve 20 warships and support ships as well as 5.000 servicemen and 10 helicopters and aircraft link . Steregushchy class corvettes Soobrazitelny and Boiky headed to sea and engaged in several combat exercises which involved simulated launches of Uran anti-ship missiles as well as air defense exercise with simulated enemy attacks coming from different heights and directions. Both vessels then took on water and fuel from the small sea tanker Alexander Grebenshchikov. During the replenishment, anti-terrorist teams onboard of the corvettes held several drills aimed to protect the vessels against sabotage link . Parachim class anti-submarine corvettes Kabardino-Balkariya and Aleksin held gunnery exercises with their 76mm and 30mm weapon systems against unmann...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Apr-28 Weekly Brief The Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar departed the Mediterranean at the end of the week. Without a dedicated supply base, deployment of Kilo Class submarines is drastically shortened from 6 months to a mere 10 weeks or roughly 1/3rd if what the deployment time was when the submarines could use Tartus. A rotation of forces is probable with the arrival of the Steregushchy class corvette Soobrazitelny arriving in Mediterranean. Her arrival could result in the frigate Admiral Grigorovich being recalled to the Baltic Sea for maintenance. This frigate has been at sea almost interrupted since December 2024 when the Russian forces were no longer allowed to stay in Syria. Daily Events April 20 Russian cargo vessel Maia-1 entered the Mediterranean at 16:30 via the Strait of Gibraltar  link . Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and its escorting tug Evgeny Churov have arrived in the port of Algiers, Algeria lin...

  Daily Events Monday April 21st A Russian warship is reported in the Southwestern Approaches of the English Channel. The vessel is either the frigate Admiral Golovko returning from the Mediterranean or the corvette Soobrazitelny  link . Tuesday April 22nd Steregushchy class corvettes Rezkyi and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, together with the escorting fleet oiler Pechenga, departed the port of Chittagong, Bangladesh  link . Wednesday  April 23rd Fleet oiler Kola allegedly passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean. The vessel could operate together with Baltic Fleet Steregushchy class corvette Soobrazitelny  link . Frigate Admiral Golovko has completed her passage through the English Channel and entered the North Sea link . Thursday April 24th Steregushchy class corvettes Rezkyi and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, together with the escorting fleet oiler Pechenga, arrived at Sattahip, Thailand link .