Russia’s Fleet of Landing Ships Is Crossing the Straits Into the Black Sea

Any who still think there isn’t a huge and unprecedented Russian military buildup in the south-western direction need to stop embarrassing themselves.

The Russian military confirms its flotilla of landing ships assembled in Tartus, Syria composed of 6 ships of the Baltic and Northern Fleets is transitioning into the Black Sea. Interfax:

Six large landing ships (BDK) of the Baltic and Northern Fleets are moving from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea, where they will take part in the exercises, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

On February 7, the press service of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation reported that a detachment of warships consisting of the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the frigate Admiral Kasatonov and the large anti-submarine ship [destroyer] Vice-Admiral Kulakov entered the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar.

It was reported that in early February, having passed the Suez Canal, a detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation led by the flagship – the missile cruiser Varyag – entered the Mediterranean Sea. This detachment includes a large anti-submarine ship “Admiral Tributs” and a large sea tanker “Boris Butoma”. They went on a long march from Vladivostok in December 2021.

This means of the currently active 21 large landing ships Russia has 13 will be in the Black Sea. The landing ships traveled fully loaded, bringing equipment belonging to naval infantry brigades of the Baltic and Northern fleets. (Personnel will likely be moved by land or air.)

This isn’t the most important part of the Russian buildup. Far from it. But it is the part that is the most difficult to deny. There is at the very least a demonstrative buildup. A show of military potential if you will.