Russia withdraws last submarine from Mediterranean sea
The Portuguese navy reported that their aviation spotted a Russian submarine in the Mediterranean Sea near Gibraltar. It was likely the B-261 Novorossiysk, which was withdrawn from the Tartus base in Syria.
After the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, a close ally of the Kremlin, the fate of Russian bases in Syria has become highly uncertain. The world is primarily interested in two main facilities - the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province and the base in the port city of Tartus. The presence of the B-261 Novorossiysk in this region was particularly significant.
B-261 Novorossiysk withdrawn from Syria
As noted by the Naval News portal, the withdrawal of the B-261 Novorossiysk means that the Russians no longer have any submarines in the Mediterranean Sea. This situation has not occurred in a long time.
The Russians have tried to maintain similar forces in the Mediterranean region, and since 2013, there has always been at least one submarine among their ships. All were stationed at the Tartus base, but satellite photo analyses show that since December 3, 2024, no such unit has appeared there.
Warszawianka capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles
The B-261 Novorossiysk is a sub of Project 636.3, also known as "Warszawianka" (NATO code: Improved Kilo), which originated from the Soviet-developed Project 877 (NATO code: Kilo).
The B-261 Novorossiysk is a submarine capable of carrying Kalibr missiles, considered some of the best in the Russian arsenal. Its withdrawal means that the Russians currently do not have such an armed unit in the Mediterranean region. Measuring approximately 73 metres in length and having a displacement of about 3,000 tonnes, the "Warszawianka" is considered very difficult to detect. Due to its diesel-electric propulsion, it is extremely quiet.
There is speculation that the successor to the B-261 Novorossiysk in the Mediterranean region will be the B-608 Mozhaysk, which already left the Baltic on December 31, 2024. However, it has not yet been observed in the waters of the English Channel. This may indicate that the Russians have delayed sending it to the still volatile region of Syria.
