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On February 4, a task force of six amphibious assault ships of the Northern and Baltic Fleets arrived at the Russian Navy’s base in the Syrian port of Tartus.
The force is made up of a Project 11711 amphibious assault ship, Pyotr Morgunov, and five Project 775 amphibious assault ships, Georgy Pobedonosets, Olenegorsky Gornyak, Korolyov, Minsk and Kaliningrad.
Project 11711 and Project 775 ships are designated to land an amphibious assault force on an unequipped shore and sealift troops and cargo.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense of Russia said that the task group completed its transit around Europe and arrived in the eastern Mediterranean as part of the drills under the direction of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov.
“Currently, the ships are in a roadstead in the Syrian port of Tartus where they have begun replenishing their fuel and lubricants, fresh water and food supplies to the required level at the Russian Navy’s logistic support facility in the Mediterranean,” the statement reads.
The naval drills are a part of the Russian military’s training plan for January and February. The drills, which are meant to protect Russia’s interests in World Ocean and counter military threats in several seas and oceans, will bring together over 140 warships and support vessels, more than 60 aircraft, 1,000 items of military hardware and about 10,000 troops.
Theses drills come amid unprecedented tensions in the Black Sea between Russia and the NATO over the Ukraine crisis.
If needed, the large Russian naval task force currently anchored in Syria’s Tartus, where it can carry out repairs and replenish supplies, could reach the Black Sea within a few days.
