The Russian Navy has withdrawn several ships from the Tartus naval base in Syria after opposition forces made gains in Aleppo province and nearby areas. Satellite images shared by Radio Svoboda confirm the movement of these ships, sparking concerns about the future of the base.
Details of the Departure
Analyst MT Anderson reported that the ships leaving Tartus include:
Two Project 22350 frigates (Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko),
One Project 11356R frigate (Admiral Grigorovich),
A Project 636 submarine (Novorossiysk),
And two supply ships, Vyazma and Elnia.
It is believed the ships left on December 2.
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The Russian Ministry of Defense claims the move was for training exercises, but analysts see it as a response to the growing threat in the region.
As of December 3, opposition forces are reported to be around 75 kilometers from Tartus, according to open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts.
The destination of the ships remains unclear.
They may return to Tartus if the situation stabilizes, but if the base becomes unsafe, the fleet could relocate to more secure waters, such as the Baltic Sea.
Importance of Tartus Base
Tartus is Russia’s key naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and has been strategically important for decades. Established in 1971 by the Soviet Union, the base became a Russian asset after the USSR’s collapse. It served as a simple refueling stop until 2012, when Russia upgraded it to handle larger ships.
The base has been critical for Russia’s military presence in the Mediterranean, especially during the Syrian civil war and in recent years as a hub for supporting its military operations in the region.
