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A fleet of Russian warships, loaded with heavy artillery and military equipment, is crossing the Atlantic after the loss of bases in Syria. Crossing the English Channel in a few days, the fleet is under the watchful eyes of the Royal Navy, which is already monitoring every movement of Putin’s fleet.
There is a massive movement happening in the ocean. Russian warships, loaded to the brim with tons of weapons and military equipment, are on their way to the English Channel and are expected to arrive in the coming days. The convoy, which departed from Tartus, Syria, is part of a forced withdrawal of Russia following a major setback: the loss of its military bases in the country.
The Royal Navy is already keeping an eye on things. HMS Cutlass, one of the ships in the British fleet, is closely monitoring every step of this Russian armada, which, let’s face it, does not have a very peaceful history.
Putin Forced to Recall Troops and Weapons
Russia’s plan in the Middle East has suffered a heavy blow. Since 2015, Moscow has invested billions in the government of Bashar al-Assad, providing troops, weapons, and military support. But the tables have turned. The new Syrian government no longer wants Russia around and has demanded that the Russian bases be closed.
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The U.S. Army receives the first Black Hawk helicopter that can fly without pilots, be controlled by a tablet, and even land on its own during high-risk missions.
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With 11,000 tons and sensors capable of hunting submarines at long distances, the Type 055 has become one of the most feared floating arsenals of the Chinese navy.
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With over 15,000 tons, radars capable of tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously, and more than 120 missiles ready for launch in seconds, modern destroyers cease to be escorts and begin to dominate the naval battlefield.
What does Putin have left? To gather everything and return home. And worse: there are reports that the Kremlin might have kept the bases open if it had agreed to return Assad to power. But, since that was not an option, the way was to retreat and take away tons of weaponry.
Now, Russia has to deal with the fact that it has lost its influence in the region and that, as a result, its military operations in the Mediterranean have become much more complicated.
The Russian Warships and the Retreat Route
The fleet that is returning home is not just any fleet. Among the ships involved are:
Admiral Golovko – A state-of-the-art warship, known for its offensive capabilities.
Sparta and Sparta II – Cargo ships used by the Russian Ministry of Defense to transport military equipment.
General Skobelev – A military tanker, essential for keeping the fleet supplied.
Ivan Gren and Alexsandr Otrakovsky – Landing ships, capable of carrying large quantities of heavy weaponry.
The convoy has already passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and is now heading north, sailing along the Portuguese coast. The plan is to reach the port of Baltiysk in the Baltic Sea, but for that, they will need to cross the English Channel — and that crossing promises to be tense.
The British Navy is closely monitoring everything. HMS Cutlass has already tracked two Russian convoys while patrol helicopters keep watch over every move of Putin’s fleet.
Tension in the English Channel
The traffic of Russian warships so close to European waters does not go unnoticed. The United Kingdom and France are keeping an eye on the movement, monitoring every detail of this fleet that, wherever it goes, generates concern.
In recent months, the Russian military presence in the region has increased. A Russian attack submarine was spotted in the area recently and had to be closely monitored by the British Navy. Weeks earlier, the corvette RFS Soobrazitelny also had to be escorted.
This time, with a convoy this large and loaded with weaponry, the tension is in the air.
Voltando para casa. A maré está russa para Putin. Vai ter que se arrumar, quiça em casa fica mais barato?