Most of the ships of the Russian Navy's operational unit in the Mediterranean Sea left the region in early 2025. This was written by military expert Peter Suchiu in the article "The Mediterranean "Flotilla" of the Russian Navy is in a Plight" for The National Interest.
The inter-fleet unit, formed in 2013, included up to 15 ships and auxiliary vessels. This includes the corvettes "Soobrazitelny" and "Boyky". Since Russia was forced to leave the base in Syrian Tartus, the number of its ships in the Mediterranean Sea has significantly decreased.
According to Maritime Executive, in early summer, Moscow transferred the diesel-electric submarine "Novorossiysk" from the Baltic through the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea. It was accompanied by the tug "Yakov Grebelsky". The Russian submarine spent most of July off the coast of Libya and Lebanon. The "Novorossiysk" was tracked by NATO P-8 aircraft.
In addition, a medium reconnaissance ship of Project 864 was spotted in the region.
According to Suchiu, Russia is negotiating with a number of Mediterranean countries about the use of their bases. There are suggestions that Algeria may host Russian ships.
At the end of July 2025, it became known that Russia and Benin are preparing to sign an agreement on military cooperation. This also applies to the possibility of Russian ships entering the ports of the country (Gulf of Benin).
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