Russian submarine exits Mediterranean amid Syrian upheaval
The Portuguese Navy has reported that its air force observed a Russian submarine in the Mediterranean Sea near Gibraltar. The submarine is believed to be the B-261 Novorossiysk, which has been withdrawn from the Tartus base in Syria.
Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, a close ally of the Kremlin, the future of Russian bases in Syria became highly uncertain. The world is primarily focused on two main facilities: the Humaymim airbase in Latakia province and the base in the port city of Tartus. The presence of the B-261 Novorossiysk in this area was particularly significant.
B-261 Novorossiysk withdrawn from Syria
According to the Naval News portal, the withdrawal of the B-261 Novorossiysk indicates that the Russians no longer maintain any submarines in the Mediterranean Sea. This is a situation that has not occurred for a considerable time.
The Russians have made efforts to sustain similar forces in the Mediterranean region, maintaining at least one submarine since 2013. These were all stationed at the Tartus base, but analyses of satellite images show that since 3rd December 2024, no such units have been present there.
The Warszawianka can carry Kalibr cruise missiles
The B-261 Novorossiysk belongs to the Project 636.3 submarines, also known as "Warszawianka" (in NATO's terminology: Improved Kilo). This class is derived from the Project 877 developed in the Soviet Union (NATO code: Kilo).
The B-261 Novorossiysk is equipped to carry Kalibr missiles, among the most effective in the Russian arsenal. Its withdrawal means that, currently, the Russians do not possess such an armed unit in the Mediterranean. Measuring 240 feet in length and having a displacement of about 3,000 tons, the "Warszawianka" is considered very challenging to detect. Due to its diesel-electric propulsion, it operates incredibly quietly.
It is speculated that the successor to the B-261 Novorossiysk in the Mediterranean could be the B-608 Mozhaysk, which departed the Baltic on 31st December 2024. However, it has not yet been observed in the English Channel, suggesting that the Russians may have delayed its deployment to the still volatile region of Syria.
