Where are you, Kildin?

On Friday, the Russian intelligence ship Yantar left the Mediterranean after sailing near the Greek and Italian coasts, raising alarms among NATO forces.

However, the Yantar was not the only Russian spy ship in the Mediterranean. In fact, a second vessel, the Kildin, departed Tartus, Syria, on December 17 and had since gone off the radar.

Today, we learned that on the same Friday, a unit from the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, the Turkish frigate TCG Kemalreis (F 247), monitored the Russian vessel somewhere in the Mediterranean.

We. Are. Watching. Always vigilant. 🇹🇷 TCG Kemalreis, Standing NATO Maritime Group 2's Flagship, monitored a Russian vessel in the Mediterranean Sea on January 17, 2025. #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/UKeA7PxcAB

— NATO Maritime Command (@NATO_MARCOM) January 19, 2025

Of course, such a vague location provides little precision, but given that the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is likely operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, we at least have a general idea of where the ship might be. Adding to this, the numerous P-8A patrol missions focusing (among other areas) on the waters south of Cyprus suggest that the Russian ship is likely located in that region.