A few days ago we wrote how some Russian units, including the cruiser Varyag, were sailing in the Ionian Sea.
A few days have passed and we do not know where these units are today.
However, it is interesting to observe the mission carried out today by an Italian Air Force ATR P-72A (reg. MM62280 – f/n IAM4101) that took off from Sigonella AB at 09:45 and landed at the Sicilian base at around 16:00.
During the more than six-hour mission, the aircraft, after flying off western Sicily, headed towards Crete where it orbited for about 45 minutes west of the island, near the Strait of Antikithira.
We do not know the reasons for this mission nor whether it is related to the presence of Russian units, but it is worth noting that Russian military vessels have been reported in the area in the past and that the area is only a few miles from the NATO naval base of Souda.