Syrian Express


The Syrian Express is the name used to describe the regular supply voyages through the Bosporus to Ba'athist Syria, in particular using amphibious warfare ships of the Russian Navy, that were made during the Syrian civil war. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the Turkish authorities were persuaded to implement terms of the Montreux convention, banning the passage of further military vessels through the Bosporus. With the fall of the Syrian regime the change in nature of the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war will lead to a further change in the nature of the traffic using this route.

Name

The supply route to Syria was dubbed the "Syrian Express" by Russian sailors after its launch in 2012. Presumably, it is a reference to the Imperial Japanese Navy's Tokyo Express, supplying Japanese forces during the Guadalcanal campaign in the Pacific theater of World War II.

Ships involved

Black Sea Fleet

197th Landing Ship Brigade

;Others
  • Kyzyl-60
  • Vologda-50
  • ''Dvinitsa-50''

Civilian vessels

  • MV ''Alexander Tkachenko''

Other logistic vessels