Large Russian Military Cargo Convoy Forming Up in the Baltic
An unusually large convoy of cargo vessels, all sanctioned and with well-established histories of moving military cargo for the Russian Ministry of Defense, appears to be forming up at Baltiysk, in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. They appear to be readying to depart.
Baltiysk has often been used as an assembly point for escorted cargo ships heading either for the Mediterranean or for West Africa, usually to support the activities of the state-sponsored mercenary group, the Africa Corps, which supports governments in power facing threats from Islamist militants. These governments are generally military-led, having seized power in coups.
The vessels involved are the Lady R (IMO 9161003), Ascalon (IMO 9198226), Lady D (IMO 9349289), Sparta (IMO 9268710), and Anastasiia (IMO 9349291). All are now in Baltiysk or in the anchorage just outside the port, most having beforehand come south from St. Petersburg. It would appear likely that the vessels have taken on cargo in St. Petersburg and are completing loading at Baltiysk.
Four military cargo vessels (1-4) loading at Baltiysk in Kaliningrad on October 27 (Sentinel-2)
On October 27, the Sparta (1) was at the dockside loading military vehicles, alongside Anastasiia (2) and the Lady D (3), with the Ascalon (4) on the wharf opposite. By October 30, the Ascalon, Anastasiia, and Sparta had completed loading and had moved to the anchorage just outside the harbor, while the Lady R was approaching Baltiysk from St. Petersburg.
Also in the harbor on October 27 was the Sovremenny class destroyer Nastoychivy (D610) (5), which has been under repair since 2019, flagship of the Baltic Fleet, and not going anywhere soon, but also a Steregushchiy class corvette (6), a class of vessel often used to escort military cargo vessels in the past, and possibly the Stoikiy (F545). Also used for escort duties in the past are vessels from the tank landing Ropucha Class, with the Aleksandr Shabalin (L110) having returned from such a trip to Tobruk in September. Two other vessels (7) and (8) arrived at their jetty, probably for restocking, between October 23 and 27, and could be Ropucha class ships.
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It remains to be seen if the Russian navy is economizing on the need for escort vessels by sending military cargo vessels all out together, watched over by a single naval warship. In these circumstances, once near the Strait of Gibraltar and past the areas of highest risk for naval interdiction, the cargo vessels could then split and head off in separate directions. It is unlikely that they are either loaded with diesel or all heading for the same destination, unless Russia is planning a major new intervention or is planning to invade somewhere new, with the Africa Corps having won a new contract.
Top photo by Russian Geographical Society - CC BY 3.0
