On Friday, a new Russian vessel entered the Mediterranean, escorted by a tanker. The ships in question are the frigate Admiral Golovko and the tanker Vyazma. Both are heading to Tartus, Syria, where it is likely that the Admiral will replace the Admiral Gorshov currently stationed there, which will return to Russia.
During its journey to the Mediterranean, the Admiral Golovko conducted exercises in the English Channel and was shadowed by British and French naval units. Armed with hypersonic missiles, the frigate will serve as the primary Russian naval unit deployed in the Mediterranean (with the frigate Admiral Grigorovich).
The frigate was the first Russian navy warship to be equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles. It is fitted with 3S14 VLS cells, which can launch Kalibr, Oniks, or Zircon anti-ship cruise missiles.
It is worth noting that the inability to access the Black Sea and the necessity for Russian vessels to return to domestic ports for significant maintenance have significantly constrained Russian naval activity in the Mediterranean. For several months, the presence of Russian ships has been limited to occasional training exercises and, more notably, port visits to “friendly” countries—primarily in North Africa.
Despite this, numerous NATO assets, both naval and aerial, remain actively engaged in monitoring Russian activities in the Mediterranean.
Leave a comment