Monitoring (also) Russian flotilla

A long mission by an Italian Air Force ATR P-72A (reg. MM62280) is concluding at this very moment (15:00 CEST), after taking off earlier this morning from Sigonella Air Base.

The aircraft carried out a standard maritime patrol mission over the central Mediterranean, as also indicated by its flight number IAM4101, typically assigned to this type of operation.

Less routine, however, was a diversion to the south of Sardinia, where the aircraft orbited over a clearly defined area. In that region, the Russian flotilla known as the “Syrian Express” was transiting. This formation includes the corvette Boikiy, which is escorting two Russian logistics vessels: the cargo ship Sparta and the tanker General Skobelev, both of which departed from Syria and are currently en route back to Russia.

From this point onward, responsibility for monitoring the Russian vessels passes to other NATO countries (namely France and Spain), as the flotilla exits the area under Italian jurisdiction.