The Ostsee-Abzug Russian Naval Group surprises experts
At the end of July, St. Petersburg celebrates the Russian Navy Day with a fleet parade. However, three ships that were supposed to participate in the celebrations suddenly leave the Baltic Sea and head north. The reasons are unclear.
A surprise departure of Russian warships from the Baltic Fleet into the North Sea reportedly causes puzzlement among experts. According to the magazine "European Security & Technology", the submarine "Tambow", the destroyer "Admiral Levtchenko", and the landing ship "Ivan Gren" left the Baltic Sea on Sunday, despite their announced participation in the Navy Day celebrations in St. Petersburg on July 28.
The submarine and the destroyer were reportedly sighted in the Great Belt strait on July 6, heading south with the icebreaker "Nikolay Chiker" in their company. The "Nikolay Chiker" then turned towards the British Shetland Islands in the North Sea. Currently, the ship is located outside the Norwegian coastal waters near the harbor city of Alesund. The "Ivan Gren" was reportedly joined by the landing ship "Kondopoga" in the Baltic Sea the next day.
The state Russian news agency TASS had previously announced the participation of the three warships "Tambow", "Admiral Levtschenko", and "Ivan Gren" in the Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg. According to the reports, the submarines "Kazan" and "Kronstadt" as well as the icebreaker "Ivan Papanin" were also expected to participate. The "Kazan" made headlines in June when the submarine was moving along the Irish and Scottish coasts during its journey to Cuba, causing alarm in British security circles.
According to the magazine, the "Tambow", "Admiral Levtschenko", and "Ivan Gren" were last seen west of the Norwegian coast, heading north. No reasons have been given for the apparently sudden departure. The "Kazan" has not been spotted in the Baltic Sea yet.
The three warships, the "Tambow", "Admiral Levtschenko", and "Ivan Gren", were originally scheduled to take part in Navy Day celebrations in Saint Petersburg, but their unexpected departure towards the North Sea raised concerns. Russia's military activities in the Baltic Sea have historically been a significant factor in regional politics.
