The majority of Russia’s Mediterranean Sea Task Force departed the Mediterranean earlier this year.
Last month, the Russian Navy carried out its “July Storm” exercises, which involved nearly all of its fleets and flotillas. Touted as its largest-ever naval drills, these exercises involved 15,000 military personnel, more than 150 vessels, 120 aircraft, and 10 coastal mission systems. Notably missing, of course, from the exhibition of Russian military might was the Black Sea Fleet, which did not take part due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
However, the absence of another flotilla from the exercises largely went unnoticed. This was the Russian Navy’s Mediterranean Sea Task Force, which has been officially active since its establishment in 2013. At its height, it consisted of as many as 15 warships and auxiliary vessels, but the “permanent” task force is less of a military flotilla and more akin to ships without a port to call home. Since Russia was forced to abandon its naval facility in Tartus, Syria, earlier this year, the Kremlin’s presence in the Mediterranean has diminished considerably.
According to a report from Maritime Executive, Moscow has only deployed the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine RFS Novorossiksk (B261) to the Mediterranean Sea from the Baltic earlier this summer via the English Channel. It is “supported afar” by the Goryn Class-tug Yakov Grebelskiy, and has “operated through most of July off Libya and the Levant,” while tracked by “NATO submarine-hunting P-8 aircraft.”
In addition, the Project 864 Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship, which also dates back to the Soviet Navy era, has been spotted operating in the region.
The remainder of the Mediterranean Sea Task Force departed the Mediterranean Sea earlier this year. That included the Steregushchy-class corvette RFS Soobrazitelny (F531), which passed through the Strait of Gibraltar in early July. Another corvette, the RFS Boiky (F532), has also since departed the waters.
The departure of these vessels has reduced the Kremlin’s naval presence in the region considerably, and Moscow may face challenges in finding a replacement for its base in Tartus.
Russia Is Looking for New Options in the Mediterranean
Even before it was unexpectedly evicted from Syria after the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime in December 2024, Russia had sought to expand or establish its military presence in Africa. This has included talks with Eritrea, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Egypt.
There is some speculation that Algeria, a long-standing ally of Russia, could be open to hosting the Russian Navy. Russian warships have regularly visited their ports in recent years. However, Algiers has also sought to maintain good relations with the West, and allowing a greater Russian presence may not be a line the North African nation is ready to cross.
Talks have also been pending with Sudan that would see the establishment of a permanent Russian facility. An agreement was even reached in February, but a drone attack carried out at Port Sudan in early May by the anti-government Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seriously damaged the facility. Russia may be unwilling to risk investing money to build up the port, given that such attacks could be carried out again for the duration of Sudan’s civil war—the outcome of which is still in question.
Last week, Moscow signed a military cooperation deal with Benin that included a visiting forces agreement. This could support Russia’s naval operations in the Atlantic, but given Benin’s great distance from the Mediterranean, it is unlikely to help improve the Kremlin’s footprint closer to home.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Archaeonavall.
