Russian ship fleet in med under NATO scrutiny
Sparta IV is another Russian transport ship heading to the Syrian port of Tartus to retrieve military equipment left behind after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December last year. On Sunday, the ship was off the eastern coast of Sicily, according to MarineTraffic data.
At the same time, other Russian container ships, loaded with weapons from Syria, left the Mediterranean Sea and headed north along the western coast of Portugal.
This fleet includes two landing ships, Ivan Gren and Aleksandr Otrakovski, as well as the tanker General Skobelev. In the Atlantic Ocean, they were joined by the British fast patrol boat HMS Cutlass, whose mission is to protect the waters of Gibraltar.
Convoy under surveillance
The Russian convoy in the Mediterranean Sea was constantly monitored by NATO aircraft and drones. It was likely also tracked by two nuclear-powered submarines: the American USS Indiana and the British HMS Anson. These vessels passed through the Strait of Gibraltar several times in January and February.
The absence of two Russian frigates, Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Golovko, which previously assisted Sparta and Sparta II, may suggest that they are now escorting Sparta IV on its way to Syria. After loading the military equipment, they will likely accompany it on the journey west.
