Russia Maritime Watch

Independent maritime intelligence on Russia's naval and commercial fleets. Providing strategic insights, movement tracking, and predictive OSINT reporting.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

https://t.co/YPGyP6tUJ5

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Very interesting; Iranian-flagged ships are starting to pass through more and more frequently now in MED. 😬 Excellent OSINT monitoring post. @SONARROW_OSINT @key2med @KaptainLOMA @Capt_Navy @jr_amon_ceuta @DonnetJules @NATO_MARCOM @TiaFarris10 @Rockhoppas

[Charlie B @supbrow]

Four 🇮🇷-flagged ships have set out from Port Said:

🇮🇷ALVAN (IMO 9165798)is enroute to the Turkish Straits and likely to a Black Sea 🇷🇺Russian port. It previously visited both Misrata & Benghazi 🇱🇾

🇮🇷BASHT (IMO 9346536) is sailing to Benghazi 🇱🇾
It previously was in the Malaysuan EOPL and Zhuhai

🇮🇷ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) is en route to Bronka in the 🇷🇺 Baltic from Port Klang 🇲🇾

🇮🇷NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) is enroute to St. Petersburg 🇷🇺 from Mumbai 🇮🇳
--
See details at @UANI Iran Shipping Update
https://t.co/xQrujS1hV4
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@JemimaShelley @mercoglianos @YorukIsik @SONARROW_OSINT @RFNOSBlog @brentdsadler @auonsson @bellingcat

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@antomas13356887 🤔

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

🇷🇺VALENTIN RYKOV: A ROUTE WORTH SCRUTINIZING
The Russian-flagged tanker VALENTIN RYKOV is reportedly heading from the North Sea towards the Baltic Sea, following a route that raises questions. Sailing east of Scotland after passing through waters connected to the English Channel may appear unusual if the objective is simply to avoid adverse weather. Could weather conditions alone explain this routing, or are other operational considerations at play?
The vessel's multifunctional capabilities also warrant attention. While there is no verified evidence that it is carrying drones, its potential ability to transport equipment in containers raises legitimate questions about its cargo and operational purpose. Could maritime or aerial drone systems be involved? This remains speculation, not an established fact.
In an increasingly sensitive maritime environment, unusual movements deserve careful scrutiny, independent verification and a clear distinction between evidence and hypothesis. @SONARROW_OSINT @TiaFarris10 @The_Lookout_N @KaptainLOMA @Rockhoppas @UKForcesTracker @pegge49 @visionergeo @CeciliaSykala @charly0153 @auonsson @giammaiot2

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@InsiderGeo @SONARROW_OSINT 👏👏Super

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Update

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

FLEXI 2: Anomalous Coastal Navigation Raises Questions
The Iranian-flagged container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322), departing from Bronka, Russia, is reportedly bound for the Suez Canal. However, its voyage across European waters presents a pattern that warrants closer scrutiny.
After navigating near the UK and Portuguese coasts, the vessel continued along the North African maritime corridor, with its movements near Algeria and the Sicilian coastline standing out as particularly noteworthy. Its reported coastal track raises questions about the rationale behind its route, especially where navigation appears unusually close to sensitive maritime areas.
Although its AIS destination remains Suez, the vessel's movements invite further examination and comparison with patterns sometimes associated with intelligence-gathering ships. This alone, however, does not establish an intelligence mission or suspicious activity.
Is the FLEXI 2 simply following an unconventional commercial route, or does its maritime track warrant closer investigation?
Based on reported AIS data. Positions, routes and destinations should be independently verified.@key2med @SONARROW_OSINT @TiaFarris10 @TankerTrackers @seawaves_mag @KaptainLOMA @Rockhoppas @kattyfun1 @DonnetJules @Capt_Navy @charly0153 @UKForcesTracker @Unknwon_141 @Richard_AHolmes @NavyLookout @MrFrantarelli @InsiderGeo @GrangerE04117 @visionergeo

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@KaptainLOMA @MrFrantarelli Right, thanks for the clarification.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

It hasn’t transmitted its position for 14 hours 🤔 I’m increasingly convinced that there is Russian personnel on board specializing in SIGINT.@LibyaFieldNotes @key2med @JMJalel_H @Richard_AHolmes @MTailamun @KaptainLOMA

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

After approximately 15 hours without AIS data, the Flexi 2 is located about 60 nm north of the Libyan coast. Its course lies outside the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) for the Suez route. It could be heading toward Tobruk, Libya.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Shadow Maneuvers: Russian Tanker’s Route Sparks English Channel Watch
Ghost Tracking in European Waters: Official AIS data lists the Russian Navy tanker Valentin Rykov as bound for the North Sea. However, open-source maritime analysts point to a different trajectory—heading straight toward the English Channel.

Naval observers note that the vessel's path suggests a covert logistical rendezvous to provide critical support to the Russian frigate Neustrashimyy, which has operated in the area for months. As tracking data diverges from declared destinations, security analysts continue to monitor these strategic movements near vital European chokepoints. (By - @auonsson)

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Good morning, send a plane over there for us! 😆 @ItaMilRadar

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@auonsson @Aquacade_Intel I think it’s due to a specific reflection of the sun that the camera perceives differently… I hope so 😬

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@te3ej Good morning and happy Sunday, everyone—did anyone happen to see what was entering the Baltic? The sub? @SONARROW_OSINT @The_Lookout_N @TiaFarris10 @Rockhoppas @CeciliaSykala @auonsson

[auonsson @auonsson]

Project 03182 replenishment vessel "Valentin Rykov" 4750653 is heading out for a likely first ever mission.

Commissioned this summer a guess is that she is heading for English Channel to replenish the Russian warship guarding it, I believe frigate RFS Neustrashimy at moment.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

RUSSIAN NAVAL WATCH | 1814 UTC
Russian Navy tug SB-921 Evgeniy Churov reported at 57.9°N, 05.9°E, heading southeast at 6–10 knots (by @te3ej ), reportedly alongside the Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk.
After an apparent attempt to head north, possibly toward Russia’s Northern Fleet, the group may now be turning back toward the Baltic.
Adverse weather could be forcing a change of plans, although the precise reason remains unconfirmed. Further tracking and meteorological data are needed to establish whether this is a temporary diversion or a cancelled deployment. @MrFrantarelli @UKForcesTracker @auonsson @te3ej @The_Lookout_N @KaptainLOMA @Capt_Navy @TiaFarris10 @SONARROW_OSINT @kattyfun1 @key2med @CeciliaSykala

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@TiaFarris10 Where exactly is this place located?

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

@SgtStavka True, but unfortunately, laws lately haven't been aligning with practical actions.

[Russia Maritime Watch @RFNOSBlog]

Two incidents. Three merchant ships. Two NATO coastlines.
On October 5, ROYAD MAMMADOV — St. Kitts & Nevis flag — sank off Romania after a suspected drone strike.
Just one day later, drones struck two more vessels in Bulgaria’s EEZ: ALFA WATAN (IMO 7510884, Togo flag), which sank, and ABLE (IMO 9001136, Palau flag), which caught fire.
The perpetrators remain unidentified.
But the geography is changing. From Romania to Bulgaria, attacks on civilian shipping are moving deeper into NATO’s maritime neighborhood — a worrying sign of an expanding and deteriorating Black Sea security crisis.
https://t.co/EseMfGzM6k