On April 24, 2025, the Russian missile corvette RFS Soobrazitelnyy (531), belonging to the Steregushchiy-class (Project 20380), was spotted heading eastward through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The passage of the Soobrazitelnyy through the Strait represents a clear signal of Moscow’s attempt to maintain a naval presence in the Mediterranean—an increasingly difficult task due to the lack of permanent bases following the loss of Tartus in Syria.
The Soobrazitelnyy, second unit of the Steregushchiy-class, marks a significant evolution compared to earlier Russian Navy corvettes. Built at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg, she entered service in 2011 and introduced several technological innovations that make her a versatile platform, suited for both patrol operations and air and anti-submarine defense.
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