Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-25 Weekly Brief Frigate Admiral Grigorovich arrived at the naval base at Tartus during the week. The vessel significantly increases the maritime combat capabilities of the Russian task force. It remains to be seen if the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo will be detached in the coming weeks for a maintenance in the Baltic Sea. The corvette has been on station for almost two years without undergoing maintenance. Moma class intelligence vessel Kildin remains at sea, most likely tracking NATO warships that operate mostly in the vicinity of Cyprus. Daily Events November 21 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich, corvettes Orekhovo-Zuyevo and Merkury, fleet oiler Yelnya and repair vessel PM-82 [ 1 ]. November 23 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich, corvettes Orekhovo-Zuyevo and Merkury, fleet oiler Yelny...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-18 Weekly Brief Frigate Admiral Grigorovich held a short port call at Algiers, most likely to refuel and replenish. Previous Russian port visits in Algiers lasted on average 72hours though Admiral Grigorovich only stayed for two days. The short port visit could be an indication that the frigate is needed urgently on station in the Eastern Mediterranean. Intelligence collection vessel Kildin remains at sea, most likely keeping track of NATO warships operating off the coast of Lebanon and Israel.  Both corvettes were observed at Tartus on November 15th. It is unclear if these vessels will head out to sea soon to assist the Kildin. Daily Events November 12 Frigate Admiral Grigorovich arrived in the port of Algiers [ 1 ]. November 13 Frigate Admiral Grigorovich departed the port of Algiers [ 1 ]. November 15 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the corvettes Merkury and Orekhovo-Zuyevo togethe...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-11 Weekly Brief The arrival of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich bolsters the fighting capabilities of the Russian Task Force. The frigate left the Mediterranean on April 22nd for a maintenance with the Baltic Fleet. The frigate will most likely spend its time in the Mediterranean until the Turkish Straits are opened or a new maintenance is required. With the return of the Admiral Grigorovich, the question is now of the Russian Navy will dispatch the corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo to the Baltic Fleet to undergo maintenance. Daily Events November 05 Russian hydrographic research vessel Akademik Ioffe was visually observed passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and entering the Atlantic Ocean [1]. November 06 Fleet oiler Yelnya allegedly returned towards the port of Tartus during the morning. The vessel was at sea for four days and is presumed to have refueled the vessels Kildin and/or Merkury [ 2 ]. Satellite imagery of the port...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Nov-04 Weekly Brief No real changes in the operational readiness of the Russian task force were observed. The task force remains at sea with half its combat power, most likely keeping track of US and NATO forces operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. The departure of the fleet oiler Yelnya raises questions. The oiler could have sailed out to refuel the Merkury and Kildin or heading towards the Western Mediterranean to make a rendez-vous with additional Russian naval forces. Frigate Admiral Grigorovich and an unidentified Steregushchy class corvette have been visually observed leaving the Baltic Sea, possibly heading towards the Mediterranean. Daily Events October 28 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the following vessels being present in port: Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, fleet oiler Yelnya and Amur class repair vessel PM-82 [ 1 ]. November 2 Fleet oiler Yelnya allegedly departed the port of Tartus...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Oct-28 Weekly Brief The Russian task force continues to track US naval movements in the Eastern Mediterranean with the Kildin presumably spotted training CSG-12. Steregushchy class corvette Merkury remains at sea, possibly also keeping track of US naval movements. Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo has returned to port at Tartus together with repair vessel PM-82, further suggesting that the mechanical reliability of the corvette might be compromised. Daily Events October 23 Moma class intelligence collection vessel Kildin was reportedly observed at satellite imagery. The vessel is trailing the US Navy Carrier Strike Group 12 centered on the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. The reported position was 130km west of Pafos [ 1 ]. October 26 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the following warships moored inside the harbor: Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo, the fleet oiler Yelnya and the Amur class repair vessel...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Oct-21 Weekly Brief The task force continues to operate at sea with its maximum capacity it can deploy. Both corvettes are most likely covering the US naval deployments of the Gerald R. Ford carrier task force with fleet oiler Yelnya regularly sailing out of Tartus to refuel the vessels at sea. Daily Events October 14 Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar and the rescue tug Sergey Balk were visually observed passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and exiting the Mediterranean [ 1 ]. October 17 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus only showed the fleet oiler Yelnya present inside the harbor [ 2 ]. October 18 A radio signal belonging to the fleet oiler Yelnya was intercepted, placing the vessel in a position of 34.9° North, 35,8° East; just outside the port of Tartus [ 3 ].

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Oct-14 Weekly Brief The Russian task force has been responding to the new situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the arrival of a US Navy carrier task force in the region. AGI vessel Kildin is keeping track of the carrier movements. At the same time, both corvettes departed Tartus, support by the Amur class repair vessel PM-82. Both corvettes most likely form a counterbalance to the US Navy presence and project power is support of local allies though the projected combat power falls far short of the deployed US maritime power in this region. Improved Kilo class submarine Krasnodar has been steadily heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar, escorted by rescue tug Sergey Balk. Both vessels will most likely transit on October 14th during the night to prevent visual observation. Daily Events October 09 Fleet oiler Yelnya replenished the Momo class intelligence collection vessel Kildin in a postion halfway Crete and Mersa Matr...