GENERAL SKOBELEV

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Russian convoy with military equipment monitored in English Channel

On Feb 13 a number Russian ships carrying military equipment was entering the English Channel, among them the 'Sparta', 'Sparta 2' and 'General Skobelev' and the oiler 'Yelnya', the cargo ships carrying military equipment from Syria, where the country was forced to close its naval base following the recent fall of dictator Bashar al Assad. Both ships are owned by Oboronlogistika LLC, a company that operates on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Defence. In 2022, the US government sanctioned both vessels. While passing through the strait, they have been closely shadowed by the British naval vessel RFA 'Tideforce', which began tailing the ships on Feb 12. the Russian Naval ships RFS 'Aleksandr Otrakovskiy', and 'RFS Ivan Gren', both Ropucha class ship, which are armed and designed to facilitate beach landings, accompanied the 'Sparta' and 'Sparta 2'. Also the HMS 'Iron Duke', HMS 'Tyne', and a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron reported on every move of the ships, RFS Aleksandr Otrakovskiy and , and merchant vessels Sparta, Sparta II and Reports with photo and video: https://news.sky.com/story/russian-ships-filmed-carrying-military-hardware-through-the-english-channel-13309518 https://www.forcesnews.com/services/navy/watch-footage-hms-iron-duke-shadowing-russian-task-group-english-channel

Russian convoy with ghoste fleet tanker underway from Tartus to Saint Petersburg

A convoy of the two Russian cargo ships 'Sparta' and 'Sparta II' and the Class A oil tanker 'General Skobelev', part of the Kremlin’s so-called ‘ghost fleet, will pass the port of Dover within a few miles sometime in the coming week, raising serious security concerns. Ammunition and weapons on board the three vessels are being repatriated to Russia from Syria. The dictator lost his Navy base in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tartus after the collapse of the Assad regime, which Russia backed throughout the Syrian civil war. Since then, Russia has stepped up its military withdrawal from the country, removing vehicles and containers with a lighting speed. The large landing ships 'Ivan Gren' and 'Alexander Otrakovsky' were also seen as part of the convoy. The convoy is currently positioned a few miles from Lisbon and is sailing towards Spain. The vessels will go through the English Channel and then the North Sea. The 'Sparta I' and 'General Skobelev' are expected to arrive at Saint Petersburg between Feb 21 and 23. The 'Sparta II' will call at the Russian naval port of Baltiysk and then proceed to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. The Russian fleet has no friendly port on the way to Saint Petersburg and is forced to repair whatever breakdowns at sea and without assistance. There have already been reports that the 'Sparta' has suffered technical problems both en route to Tartus and on its return journey. Report with photos: https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/10/putin-sending-ships-packed-full-weapons-just-a-miles-dover-22528742/

Tanker may have been involved in shooting incident in Baltic Sea

There was no confirmation whether the incident, on which, during a reconnaissance mission over the Baltic Sea, a German Navy helicopter was shot at with signal ammunition by a Russian naval ship, was in connection with the transit of the 'General Skobelev' on Nov 25/26, 2024.. A helicopter had stated in the mission report that he heard shots with small-caliber ammunition. Before the incident, which took place near Bornholm, a German frigate had pursued the Russian ship. The ship was on its way to the Mediterranean Sea to the Russian naval base Tartus. The helicopter had taken off from the frigate and flown very close to the Russian ship when the shots were fired. however, the helicopter was still outside the safety distance that is maintained at sea. The incident was mentioned by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during a NATO meeting in Brussels. However, she did not provide any details. The exact location of the incident remained also secre for reasons of military security. In principle, the German Armed Forces do not provide any information about movements of the Russian Navy and incidents. Naval helicopters have been deployed on the Baltic Sea several times in recent days. The helicopter now affected by the incident had a reconnaissance mission and was supposed to take photos. The Navy is using aircraft from the 5th Naval Aviation Squadron from Nordholz near Cuxhaven for this purpose. Some units of the Russian Navy have also been operating in the western Baltic Sea in recent days, for example when the "General Skobelev" was escorted through the Fehmarn Belt and the Kadet Trench by a corvette after supplying the Russian troops in Syria. These surveillance operations are also subject to secrecy. Baerbock pointed out at the NATO meeting that ships are repeatedly operating in the Baltic Sea that are involved in circumventing sanctions because of the Russian war against Ukraine. The "General Skobelev" is one of the ships that transport oil for Russian troops. These transports are monitored by units of the Federal Police, the Danish Navy and the German Navy.