Russian Navy - News and Analysis

  Out of Area Deployment March 05 Udaloy class frigate Admiral Shaposhnikov arrived at Cam Rahn, Vietnam for an official port visit link .

Northern Fleet February 27 Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov held an air defense exercise in the Barents Sea as port of its K-2 training course. The cruiser simulated missile launches against a simulated enemy air attack link . Baltic Fleet February 24 Buyan-M class corvette Stavropol held combat training exercises in the Baltic Sea. The exercises involved naval gunnery with 100mm and 30mm canons, air-defense against drones, and defensive exercises against surface drones. In addition the vessel also electronic warfare and damage control exercises link . February 25 Tarantul class missile boat Zarechny held combat exercises involving surface warfare and air defense. The missile boat simulated the launch of Moskit anti-ship cruise missiles during the exercise link . Out of Area Deployments February 24 Udaloy class frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov held a naval gunnery exercise in the Bay of Bengal as part of the MILAN-2026 international naval exercise. The vessel will also hold anti-submari...

Overview Pacific F leet February 16 Tarantul class missile boat R-14 held training exercises in the Peter the Great Bay as part of its K-2 training course. The vessel held navigation, naval gunnery, air defense, and surface warfare exercises, the latter involving simulated launches of the Moskit anti-ship missiles link . February 18 Grisha class anti-submarine corvette MPK-82 held anti-submarine and mine laying exercises in the Avacha Bay near Kamchatka. The exercises were part of the vessels K-2 training course link . February 19 Two Tu-142MZ maritime patrol aircraft flew a training mission over the Sea of Okhotsk where they practiced flying anti-submarine patrols and operations link . Out of Area Deployments February 16 Steregushchy class corvettes Sovershenny and Rezky, together with the fleet oiler Pechenga, were observed passing the islands of Yonaguni and Iriomote. All three vessels where on a southern course, entering the Pacific Ocean east of Taiwan link . February 17 ...

Overview Northern Fleet February 09 Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Kasatonov is engaged in its K-2 training course in the Barents Sea. The frigate held several combat drills including naval gunnery against coastal targets, firing the Palash anti-aircraft system against naval targets, and air defense drills link . Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Gorshkov was visually observed near Severomorsk link . Baltic Fleet February 10 Bal coastal missile defense batteries were deployed as part of regular exercise with the crews setting up the launchers and performing electronic launches link . February 15 Su-30SM and Su-30SM2 aircraft took part in night time refueling exercises from an Il-78 tanker aircraft. Around 10 aircraft took part in the exercise link . Pacific Fleet February 13 Submarine rescue vessel Igor Belousov and deep see submersible AS-40 held a submarine rescue exercise in the Peter the Great Bay, near Vladivostok link .  Two Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft trained above Avac...

Overview Northern Fleet February 02 Grisha class corvette Snezhnogorsk held several combat exercises as part of her K-2 training course. The exercises took place in the Barents Sea and involved air defense exercises against UAVs and naval gunnery against maritime and coastal targets link . February 06 Gorshkov class frigate Admiral Kasatonov is reported at Severomorsk link . Baltic Fleet February 02 Buyan-M class corvette Stavropol held gunnery exercises with her 100mm and 30mm naval guns. The gunnery exercises involved firing at a metal shield simulating conventional warships as well as exercises focused on repelling USV attacks link . February 08 The following vessels were visually observed at the naval base in Kronstadt: an Improved-Kilo class submarine (presumed to be the Novorossiysk), Parchim class corvette RFS Kazanets, and a Buyan-M class corvette (presumed to be the Naro-Fominsk) link . Pacific Fleet February 07 Steregushchy class corvette Gremyashchy arrived in the naval base...

Overview Northern Fleet January 26 Nanuchka class corvette Rassvet completed gunnery exercises in the Barents Sea as part of its K-2 training course. Other combat exercises held by the vessel included air defense exercises, firing against sea mines and defending against USV attacks link . January 27 Minesweeper Kolomna is engaged in her K-2 training course in the Barents Sea. The vessel cleared a simulated minefield which was laid by the Grisha class corvette Yunga link . January 28 Grisha class corvette Yunga held several combat drills in the Barents Sea. These drills included air defense exercises with the OSa-M missile system and AK-176 and AK-630 gunnery systems, as well as defending against a USV attack and shooting floating mines link . Baltic Fleet January 26 Steregushchy class corvette Boiky arrived to its main port at Baltiysk, Kaliningrad. The vessel completed a 9 month long deployment link . January 27 Around 10 warships are engaged in their K-2 training course, focused on c...

Overview Northern Fleet January 22 Grisha class corvette Yunga completed several combat exercises in the Barents Sea. The vessel used her AK-176mm naval gun for gunnery exercises against naval and shore targets, engaged in air defense exercises as well as protecting the vessel against sabotage link . Baltic Fleet January 20 Bykov class patrol vessel Viktor Veliky held flight deck operations as part of a training exercise. Ka-27 helicopters landed on the ship while it was adrift as well as underway. Landings took place both during the day and night for a total of 15 landings link . Su-30SM2 multirole fighters and Su-24M bombers of the naval aviation regiment assigned to the Baltic Fleet struck ground targets in the Kaliningrad Region as part of a training exercise link . January 23 Around 10 vessels departed the naval base at Baltiysk for a simulated emergency deployment for combat. The vessels were tasked with sailing out and organize themselves against a simulated air attack. Helicopt...

Overview Northern Fleet January 14 Grisha class corvette Yunga deployed to the Barents Sea  for combat drills. The drills involve gunnery and air defense exercises link . Baltic Fleet January 12 A mine sweeping exercise was reported in the Baltic Sea with the Parachim class anti-submarine vessel Parachim laying contact and floating training mines, followed by minesweepers clearing the area link . Patrol boat Vladimir Nosov completed an exercise that involved defending against attacks by UAVs and USVs. The vessel also used its Malin USV to detect training mines link . January 14 Ropucha class landing vessel Aleksandr Shabalin held a series of exercises involving preparing the vessels for departure at sea, damage control exercises while being moored and defending against sabotage link . January 15 Flight exercises took place involving the naval aviation regiment of the Baltic Fleet. Su-30SM2 multirole fighters, Su-24M bombers, Ka-27 search and rescue and anti-submarine helicopte...

Overview Out of Area Deployments January 05 Northern Fleet Udaloy class destroyer RFS Severomorsk was observed passing the Dover Strait and heading westwards into the English Channel. The destroyer is escorting the merchant vessels Sparta IV and Zhelaniya. January 07 Ropucha class landing ship RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy reportedly arrived at the port of Malabo, at Equatorial Guinea link . January 09 Steregushchy class corvette Stoiky arrived at the port of Cape Town together with the Altay class fleet oiler Yelnya link . Stereguschy class corvette Boiky was observed in the Mediterranean escorting the fleet oiler Kama and the tanker General Skobelev  link January 10 Steregushchy class corvette Stoiky departed Cape Town for a joint exercise involving the South African and People's Liberation Army Navy link .

 

  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 .

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...