Russian navy returns to Mediterranean with ‘Syrian Express’ convoy

The Russian navy has returned to the Mediterranean for the first time in two months, marking the first interruption to its presence in the region since 2013. The convoy, part of the maritime logistics network known as the ‘Syrian Express,’ arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus on Monday.

The ‘Syrian Express’ is an informal designation for the network used to transport military equipment and weapons between Russian ports and Tartus. The latest convoy included the sanctioned cargo vessel Sparta, the sanctioned tanker General Skobelev, and the replenishment ship Akademik Pashin, all escorted by the destroyer Admiral Levchenko. Some of these vessels are linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ used to bypass Western sanctions.

European forces have maintained close surveillance of the movement. After being spotted at the Strait of Gibraltar, the ships were tracked by an Italian Carabinieri frigate in the central Mediterranean. Additionally, the United Kingdom deployed three warships—HMS Duncan, HMS St Albans, and HMS Severn—to monitor the convoy as it passed through the English Channel. Tracking data indicates the vessels deactivated their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders before passing through the Strait of Gibraltar.