Russian frigate returns to fortified port amid drone threats
The partisan group Atesh, which specialises in monitoring Russian movements, conducted a reconnaissance of the base in Novorossiysk. Among the ships spotted was the Admiral Makarov frigate, which hadn't been seen for some time. This frigate carries Kalibr cruise missiles, among other things.
Most of the ships belonging to the Black Sea Fleet have been stationed in the port of Novorossiysk for several weeks. The Russians decided to relocate there from Sevastopol, which ceased to be a safe place and has systematically become a target of attacks by Ukrainian marine drones and even Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied by the United Kingdom.
Admiral Makarov in the base in Novorossiysk
According to the Atesh group report posted on the Telegram service, the Russians also don't feel safe in Novorossiysk. In addition to the ships, additional security measures have been observed.
According to the Atesh report, heavy machine gun positions have been established along the coast to safeguard the port from drone strikes. At the same time, ammunition loading observed on the piers points to preparations for future operations.
The frigate was already damaged by Ukrainians
The Russians may be diligently focusing on security measures, recalling the incidents from 2022 when the Admiral Makarov frigate was attacked and damaged by the Ukrainians.
This is one of the newest frigates in the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It is part of project 11356M (the third in the series), whose keel was laid in 2012 and entered service only in 2017. Its displacement exceeds 4,000 tonnes, and its length is about 125 metres. Admiral Makarov can move at a maximum speed of about 60 km/h.
However, from the Ukrainian perspective, the key aspect is the frigate's armament, which allows it to participate in the war and shell Ukrainian positions actively. Admiral Makarov is a carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles, which, in the 3M14 variant, have a range of up to 1,500 kilometres. This type of weapon has been repeatedly used against Ukraine.
