Russian Naval Flotilla Transits the Sicilian Channel

During the night, a Russian naval flotilla transited the Sicilian Channel heading eastbound. The group was composed of the cargo vessel Sparta, the tanker General Skobelev, and was escorted by the Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy.

The flotilla entered the Mediterranean Sea at 22:27 UTC on July 8 and later made a refueling stop between approximately 05:00 and 11:45 UTC off the Moroccan coast—likely with the support of the Russian replenishment ship Vyazma.

Although all vessels list Port Said as their official destination, it appears they are heading to the Syrian port of Tartus. In recent months, this type of convoy—frequently seen moving military equipment and supplies between Russia and Syria—has become increasingly common and is informally referred to as the “Syrian Express,” likely linked to the ongoing withdrawal of Russian materiel from Syria.

This morning, an Italian Air Force ATR P-72A (reg. MM62281) took off from Sigonella Air Base for a surveillance mission. The aircraft orbited multiple times over the Russian ships while they were crossing the Sicilian Channel before continuing its patrol.