Mediterranean Sea Task Force
The permanent task force of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea is a task force of the Russian Navy responsible for projecting Russian power in the Middle East through the Mediterranean Sea.
The Soviet Navy's 5th Operational Squadron had fulfilled a similar role from its formation in 1967 to its deactivation on 31 December 1992. The present permanent task force was established in 2013.
In September 2013, the Russian Ministry of Defence re-established a fleet in the Mediterranean using a combination of ships from the Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet stationed in Syria. Historically, it has comprised up to 15 warships and auxiliary vessels with vessels from the Baltic Fleet also providing contingents for operations in the region. However, with the loss of use of Russian naval facilities in Syria, during 2025 these numbers were significantly lower.
Historic Deployments
Between December 2007–February 2008, the Russian Navy made the first large deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in 15 years. The task force included Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier, destroyers and and Black Sea Fleet's cruiser. Vice-Admiral Nikolai Maksimov, the Northern Fleet commander, said during the operations that "After this visit to the Mediterranean and France, the first in 15 years, we will establish a constant presence in the region".In 2013, the Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea was formed by Black Sea Fleet's cruiser Moskva and Northern Fleet's destroyers and .
With the start of the military operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria on 30 September 2015, the formation took part in this operation, covering the airborne forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria and the Khmeimim Air Base at which it is deployed. The main objective of the formation was to ensure the activities of the Russian troops in Syria. Presently, it continues to facilitate and replenish Russian forces stationed there and also help out with any search and rescue operations in its area of responsibility.
2013
In September 2013, the permanent task force was formed. It was temporarily strengthened by Moskva, Northern Fleet's heavy cruiser and Pacific Fleet's cruiser Varyag and destroyer .2014
In 2014, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Black Sea Fleet's cruiser Moskva, Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, heavy cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, destroyers Admiral Levchenko, Vice-Admiral Kulakov and Severomorsk and Baltic Fleet's frigate .2015
In 2015, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Black Sea Fleet's cruiser Moskva and Northern Fleet's destroyers Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov and Baltic Fleet's frigate Yaroslav Mudry.2016
In 2016, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Black Sea Fleet's cruiser Moskva, Pacific Fleet's cruiser Varyag, Baltic Fleet's frigate Yaroslav Mudry and Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, heavy cruiser Pyotr Velikiy and destroyers Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov.The mainstay of the task force were Black Sea Fleet's frigates , Pytlivy and Admiral Grigorovich as well as destroyer .
Between October 2016–January 2017, the Russian Navy intervened in the Syrian Civil War during the Battle of Aleppo deploying a carrier strike group centered around the Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which included heavy cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, destroyers Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov and likely a nuclear submarine. The Admiral Kuznetsov's airwing, composed of 6-8 Su-33s and 4 MiG-29Ks flew missions in Syria. A Su-33 and a MiG-29K were lost due to malfunctions of the arresting wires, with pilots being safely rescued.
2017
In 2017, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, heavy cruiser Pyotr Velikiy and destroyers Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov, as well as Baltic Fleet's corvettes and .2018
In 2018, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Northern Fleet's cruiser and destroyer Severomorsk as well as Baltic Fleet's frigate Yaroslav Mudry.Between 1–8 September, the largest Russian post-Cold war naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea was conducted. Dubbed Ocean shield, it was the first iteration of Ocean shield exercises, which were in the next two years held in the Baltic Sea. 26 ships, 2 submarines and 34 aircraft were included. Among participants were cruiser Marshal Ustinov, destroyers Smetlivy and Severomorsk, frigates Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Essen, Admiral Makarov, Pytlivy and Yaroslav Mudry, corvettes Vishny Volochyok, Grad Sviyazhsk and Veliky Ustyug and conventional submarines Kolpino and Velikiy Novgorod.
Aircraft present included Tu-160 bombers, Tu-142 and Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft and Su-33 and MiG-29K maritime fighters. This was the largest Russian naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea of the post-Cold War era and the largest Russian post-Cold War naval exercise in the far sea zone. In terms of distant location and number of capital ships participating it's comparable only to June 2021 exercises of the Pacific Fleet off the Hawaii islands.
2019
In 2019, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Northern Fleet's cruiser Marshal Ustinov, destroyers Vice-Admiral Kulakov and Severomorsk and frigate .2020
In 2020, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Northern Fleet's cruiser Marshal Ustinov and destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov, as well as Baltic Fleet's frigate Yaroslav Mudry.The mainstay of the Squadron were Black Sea Fleet's frigates Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov.
Naval units were supported by aircraft operating from the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. Units deployed included Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers as well as Su-24s, Su-35s, MiG-31s and Tu-142MK and Il-38 anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
2021
In 2021, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Baltic Fleet's corvette , Northern Fleet's frigate Admiral Kasatonov and destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov and Black Sea Fleet's cruiser Moskva. In the summer, corvette Gremyashchiy and submarines Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Volkhov transited the Mediterranean Sea on their way from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean.The mainstay of the Squadron were Black Sea Fleet's frigates Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Makarov and Admiral Essen.
On 25 May 2021, three Tu-22Ms maritime bombers were deployed to the Khmeymim airbase in Syria for the first time. The deployment took place after a significant boost in NATO amphibious capability in the Mediterranean earlier in 2021. French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has left Toulon for a deployment in the Persian Gulf via the eastern Mediterranean in mid-February. American aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducted an exercise with the French helicopter carrier Tonerre off Greece in March and, in May, British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth embarked on a maiden voyage to the Indian Ocean via the Mediterranean, where it will hold exercises with Charles de Gaulle.
On 25 June 2021, two anti-ship interceptors MiG-31K, armed with Kinzhal missiles were deployed to Khmeymim airbase for the first time and fired Kinzhal in an exercise the same day. They participated in a large-scale anti-ship exercise, which included cruiser Moskva, frigates Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov and submarines Stary Oskol and Rostov-on-Don, three bombers Tu-22M3, as well as anti-submarine aircraft Il-38 and Tu-142.
The newest air defence system S-500 was reportedly tested at Khmeymim airbase and obtained a lock on a F-35 fighter from the HMS Queen Elizabeth. The exercise included rocket fire 30 km away from the HMS Queen Elizabeth. The exercise took place during the deployment of the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Eastern Mediterranean and have coincided with aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower reentering the Mediterranean Sea after three months in the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal on 1 July.
On 16 November, British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth reentered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Since the only Russian large surface combatant present in the area Admiral Grigorovich was in the western Mediterranean Sea, taking part in Russo-Algerian naval exercise between 16 and 17 November, it's unclear whether Russia sent any ship at all to shadow the aircraft carrier, except for the airplanes.
On 23 November, Admiral Grigorovich was already reported off Tartus.
2022
During 2022, known Russian naval forces deployed with the task force reportedly included:- two Improved Kilo-class submarines and Krasnodar ; Novorossiysk redeployed to the Baltic for maintenance as of September 2022
- at least one Russian nuclear-powered submarine entered the Mediterranean in August 2022
- two Slava-class cruisers.
- two Udaloy-class destroyers
- the frigate Admiral Kasatonov
- the frigate Admiral Gorshkov
- the frigate Admiral Grigorovich
- the Steregushchiy-class corvettes Soobrazitelny and Stoikiy
- the Buyan-M-class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo
- Additional mine warfare units/auxiliaries.
In August 2022, Russia deployed Severodvinsk to the Mediterranean Sea, making it the first Russian nuclear submarine in the Mediterranean since Kursk and Tomsk in 1999.