The only Russian conventional submarine present in the Mediterranean has left the area

As anticipated, yesterday afternoon the Russian Navy tug Churov departed the Mediterranean, escorting the submarine Krasnodar.

Russian navy sub KRASNODAR B-265 heading west through the STROG this evening with the tug EVGENIY CHUROV#shipsinpics #ships #shipping #shipspotting @air_intel @YorukIsik @seawaves_mag @The_Lookout_N @Capt_Navy @Drox_Maritime @EE_EspadaEscudo pic.twitter.com/S5xkNQa1ag

— Daniel Ferro (@Gibdan1) April 27, 2025

The Krasnodar‘s deployment in the Mediterranean proved rather ineffective, as its movements were closely monitored, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Syria. There, the submarine waited for an extended period for permission to enter the port of Tartus — Russia’s historic naval base in the region — but access was ultimately denied.
Following this setback, the submarine, accompanied by the tug, headed westward. After a stop in Algiers, likely for scheduled maintenance, it was forced to exit the Mediterranean and return to Russia.

This development once again raises serious doubts about the operational effectiveness of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean, which currently lacks a permanent logistical base.
Today, the Russian naval presence in the region poses little threat to NATO forces: it has been reduced to a minimal force consisting of just two surface vessels — a frigate and a corvette — and, following the departure of the Krasnodar, no conventional submarines remain deployed.