Anna Hartz
Ukraine Says Russia Has No Real Naval Base Left in the Mediterranean
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In recent years, the Mediterranean Sea has been a key area for Russia’s military presence. Their navy operated there regularly.
They had a base in Syria and used it to project strength and influence across the region. Things have now changed.
According to Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Navy, Russia no longer has a proper naval base in the Mediterranean, reports Ukrinform.
He explained the situation in a recent TV interview. Russian ships are still there. They try to run military drills and show they have not pulled back.
But they are now operating in what is basically foreign waters.
Pletenchuk said Russia can still dock in some friendly ports in Africa. They use these places to refuel and get minor repairs done.
However, these are not real naval bases. There is no fixed hub where they can plan, rest, and manage logistics in the same way they once did.
He also said it’s getting harder for them to keep up operations because they lack proper support nearby.
Without the base in Tartus, Syria, things are much harder for them. That base used to be a key part of their naval strength in the region.
The change came after the new Syrian leadership, with support from Turkey, took a position against keeping the Russians in the country. This has left Moscow with fewer options.
Still, Russia is trying to stay in the picture. They keep sending ships and running exercises. They want to be seen.
They want to show that they haven’t left. Pletenchuk said this is part of Russia’s broader interest in keeping a role in Africa and the Mediterranean. Even without a base, they are not giving up entirely.
But it’s not like before. Their presence is weaker now. Their ability to move and act quickly is more limited. What used to be a firm foothold has become a scattered effort to stay involved.