The amphibious assault ship Alexander Shabalin/Photo: Russian media
The British Royal Navy and the French Navy have spotted a large-scale movement of a Russian “Syrian convoy” across the English Channel. This is one of the largest groups of Russian military and cargo vessels to enter the territorial waters of the United Kingdom and France since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The Times reports this with reference to British OSINT observers (UK Forces Tracker and Navylookout).
According to preliminary estimates by Western intelligence, the convoy was probably transporting military equipment from the Russian naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus. Some experts believe that it could have been an evacuation of equipment, while others suggest that the ships were carrying weapons for Russian troops in Ukraine.
What exactly were the Russians transporting?
The convoy included:
– The landing ship Alexander Shabalin is a warship capable of transporting military equipment and marines.
– The Maia-1 cargo vessel is a 138-metre-long ship that is under sanctions for transporting artillery shells from North Korea.
– The Sparta IV and Siaivo Severa ships are used as logistics transporters to supply the Russian army.
Satellite data and Western intelligence observations suggest that these vessels may have been carrying military equipment and ammunition for the frontline in Ukraine.
A large-scale Kremlin operation or an attempt to hide losses?
The fact that the “Syrian convoy” appeared in the English Channel caused concern in London and Paris. It is known that Russia has been actively using the Tartus base as a logistics hub for the supply of weapons and military resources.
If the convoy was indeed taking equipment out of Syria, this could indicate that Moscow is redirecting resources from the Middle East to strengthen its forces in Ukraine. Western analysts believe that Russia may have withdrawn some of its forces in Syria due to the urgent need for military equipment and ammunition.
Despite the fact that the Russian side traditionally does not comment on such operations, the British and French navies continue to closely monitor Russian movements in the Atlantic and the English Channel.
Whether this will be the beginning of a new trend in Russian military logistics is a question that NATO intelligence services will analyse in the near future.
