Novorossiysk to House russia’s Remaining Black Sea Fleet Amidst Ukrainian Threats (Satellite Images)
Sevastopol no longer serving as the main base for the russian Black Sea Fleet, its remaining vessels are now stationed in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar region. The entrance to this base has been fortified with barges to prevent Ukrainian naval drones from entering.
Recent satellite images released by MT Anderson show that nearly all of russia’s significant assets in the Black Sea are currently concentrated at this base. Among these assets are the remaining submarines of the russian Black Sea Fleet, including the B-871 Alrosa vessel (Project 877V Paltus) and three Project 636.3 Varshavyanka submarines – B-265 Krasnodar, B-268 Veliky Novgorod and B-271 Kolpino – all of which are docked at the pier. Another Project Varshavyanka submarine, the B-237 Rostov-na-Donu vessel, was sunk in Sevastopol Bay, and a 56-meter wooden mockup has taken its place.
The bay also houses two new Project 11356R missile frigates, Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, along with two older Project 1135 Burevestnik patrol ships, Ladny and Pytlivy. Additionally, six large landing ships, four Project 775, one Project 1171 Tapir, Ivan Gren) and all three Project 22160 patrol ships of are stationed there.
Among the older Soviet-era vessels, the base hosts two Project 1239 small missile ships, Bora and Samum, two Project 1241 Molniya missile boats and two Project 1124 small anti-submarine ships. Currently, only one Project 21631 Buyan-M small missile ship is in Novorossiysk, despite the enemy possessing four of these Kalibr missile carriers. However, these ships are stationed in other harbors and have not ventured out to sea recently, as the Ukrainian Navy has not detected any russian ships in the Black Sea or Sea of Azov in recent days. The last reported sighting of russian forces in these waters was on June 17.
