Russian fleet's tactical retreat: Admiral Makarov resurfaces
The partisan movement Atesh, which focuses on monitoring Russian activities, conducted reconnaissance of the base in Novorossiysk. Among the ships identified was the Admiral Makarov frigate, which hadn't been observed for some time. This frigate carries Kalibr cruise missiles, among other armaments.
Most of the Black Sea Fleet's ships have been stationed in the port of Novorossiysk for several weeks. The Russians decided to relocate from Sevastopol, which ceased to be a secure location and has consistently been targeted by Ukrainian marine drones and even Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied by the United Kingdom.
Admiral Makarow in the base at Novorossiysk
According to the Atesh group report posted on the Telegram service, Russians also don't feel safe in Novorossiysk. In addition to the ships, additional security measures have been observed.
"Posts with heavy machine guns have been deployed on the coast to protect the port from drone attacks. Ammunition loading was recorded on the piers, indicating preparations for new operations," the Atesh report states.
The frigate was already damaged by Ukrainians
The Russians may be intensely focused on security measures, recollecting the incidents from 2022 when the Admiral Makarov frigate was attacked and damaged by Ukrainians.
This is one of the newest frigates in the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It is part of project 11356M (the third in line), whose keel was laid in 2012 and entered service in 2017. Its displacement exceeds 4,000 tonnes, and its length is about 125 metres. Admiral Makarov can travel at a maximum speed of about 60 km/h.
However, from the Ukrainian perspective, the key aspect is the frigate's armament, which allows it to actively participate in the conflict and target Ukrainian positions. Admiral Makarov is a carrier of, among other weapons, Kalibr cruise missiles, which in the 3M14 variant have a range of up to 1,500 kilometres. This type of weapon has been repeatedly used against Ukraine.
