According to the reports, Russia is running out of submarines founded in the Mediterranean Sea, after the sending of Novalossiysk retired to the Atlantic Ocean.
NATO said the Portuguese military had observed the ship, which it founded at Russia’s naval base in Syria, from waters near Portugal. Naval News reported that this resolution reported that there were now “no Russian submarines in the Mediterranean. “
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.
Russia, which continues its invasion of Ukraine, has no longer known submarines in the Mediterranean, a strategically navigable path.
Syria’s port city of Tartus has given Russia a naval base in the Mediterranean for more than five decades, however, the fall of Bashar al-Assad to rebels led through the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, has turned his army’s long streak into his army. the region.
Moscow has been trying to hang onto its military assets in Syria but since Assad’s overthrow, Russian assets have departed, weakening Russia’s presence in the region.
Open Source Intelligence X counts Osint Technical among the outlets on Sunday that Russia’s kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk (B-61) has left the Mediterranean, after separating from Syria.
“The withdrawal leaves Russia with no permanent sub based in the Mediterranean,” it said, next to an image of the vessel through the sight of the Portuguese frigate NRP Álvares Cabral.
The Alliance is watching and we are vigilant! Recently, our NATO allies from the Portuguese Navy, NRP Álvares Cabral and NRP Setúbal, monitored the Russian submarine Novorossiysk and the Large Landing Ship (LLT) Alexander Shabalin as the ships passed through waters near Portugal.… pic.twitter.com/3r0hcNd9j4
NATO Maritime Command said in a statement on Sunday that the Portuguese Navy, NRP Álvares Cabral and NRP Setúbal, monitored the submarine and the Large Landing Ship (LLT) Alexander Shabalin as they passed through waters near Portugal.
“The alliance is and we are attentive!” He added the position of NATO.
Naval News reported that the vessel had left Syria in the early hours of January 2 and while it is possible that there is a nuclear powered submarine there, “we consider this unlikely.”
Novorossiysk and all of Russia’s Naval Task Group (TG) never returned to Tartus after naval exercises on December 3.
The NATO maritime command said Sunday that the Portugal Navy “saw Russian submarine Novorossiysk and the Giant Touchdown Send (LLT) Alexander Shabalin while sending to pass in nearby waters to Portugal. “
X OSINT Technical account: “The Russian kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk (B-61) has left the Mediterranean, taking flights from Syria. The withdrawal leaves Russia with an under-submarine in the Mediterranean. “
The Russian Class submarine Novorossiysk (B-61) has left the Mediterranean, retiring from Syria. The withdrawal leaves Russia without a permanent submarine in the Mediterranean. As noted through the view of the Portuguese frigate NRP Álvares Cabral. pic. twitter. com/cfljbdhcwr
Moscow can try to update Syrian fundamental tartus, a key detail of Moscow’s influence on the Middle East and Africa, through the base or negotiate an agreement with the new Syrian government to maintain the existing site, however, there is no Symptoms yet.
Yörük Işık, head of the Istanbul-based Bosphorus Observer consultancy, told Newsweek last month Moscow may look to other countries that give it a Mediterranean foothold, such as Algeria, Tunisia or Libya.
“The loss of this base will also interfere with all of its operations in Africa and, to a large extent, in the Caribbean,” he said, and most importantly, it will put its influence in the Mediterranean “into question. “
Naval News reported that the replacement of Novalossiysk, if there is one, is in the North Sea waiting for transit to the south to the Mediterranean.
“This improved kilo elegance boat, which would be Krasnodar (B-265), but perhaps Mozhaisk (B-608), observed when leaving the Baltic on December 31, 2024,” said the point of sale, well, and Be a retention. In his transit, perhaps due to maintenance disorders with him or one of his escorts.
However, the Russian army as the weakest in the region since before Vladimir Putin introduced his large -scale invasion of Ukraine.
Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. His focus is Russia and Ukraine, in particular the war started by Moscow. He also covers other areas of geopolitics including China. Brendan joined Newsweek in 2018 from the International Business Times and well as English, knows Russian and French. You can get in touch with Brendan by emailing [email protected] or follow on him on his X account @brendanmarkcole.