Between December 2007–February 2008, the Russian Navy made the first large deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in 15 years. The task force included Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier , destroyers and and Black Sea Fleet's cruiser .
Vice-Admiral Nikolai Maksimov, the Northern Fleet commander, said during the operations that "After this visit to the Mediterranean and France, the first in 15 years, we will establish a constant presence in the region". In 2013, the Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea was formed by Black Sea Fleet's cruiser
Moskva (5 July–12 July–17 July) and (January–June). With the start of the
military operation of the
Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria on 30 September 2015, the formation took part in this operation, covering the airborne forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria and the
Khmeimim Air Base at which it is deployed. The main objective of the formation was to ensure the activities of the Russian troops in Syria. Presently, it continues to facilitate and replenish Russian forces stationed there and also help out with any search and rescue operations in its area of responsibility.
2013 In September 2013, the permanent task force was formed. It was temporarily strengthened by
Moskva (11 September–18 November), Northern Fleet's
heavy cruiser (2 November–unknown) and destroyer (2 November), heavy cruiser
Pyotr Velikiy (2 November 2013–8 May 2014–30 June),
Vice-Admiral Kulakov (28 April–December) and
Severomorsk (28 November).
2015 In 2015, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Black Sea Fleet's cruiser
Moskva (6 September 2014–18 January, 1 June–18 August and 25 September–10 April 2015) and
Vice-Admiral Kulakov (November–25 March 2016) and Baltic Fleet's frigate
Yaroslav Mudry (August 2014–16 February 2015–9 January 2016), Pacific Fleet's cruiser
Varyag (3 January 2016–spring), Baltic Fleet's frigate
Yaroslav Mudry (11 June–9 October) and Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier
Admiral Kuznetsov, heavy cruiser
Pyotr Velikiy (both 26 October). The mainstay of the task force were Black Sea Fleet's frigates (5 May–10 June),
Pytlivy (25 May–1 July and 6 August) and
Admiral Grigorovich (May–9 June and 24 September–6 October) as well as destroyer (7 March–9 June and 25 October–5 March 2017). Between October 2016–January 2017, the Russian Navy
intervened in the Syrian Civil War during the
Battle of Aleppo deploying a carrier strike group centered around the Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier
Admiral Kuznetsov, which included heavy cruiser
Pyotr Velikiy, destroyers
Severomorsk and
Vice-Admiral Kulakov and likely a nuclear submarine. The
Admiral Kuznetsov's airwing, composed of 6-8 Su-33s and 4 MiG-29Ks flew missions in Syria. A Su-33 and a MiG-29K were lost due to malfunctions of the arresting wires, with pilots being safely rescued.
2017 In 2017, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Northern Fleet's aircraft carrier
Admiral Kuznetsov, heavy cruiser
Pyotr Velikiy (both 26 October 2016–20 January 2017) and destroyers
Severomorsk (26 October 2016) and
Vice-Admiral Kulakov (8 August–4 November), as well as Baltic Fleet's corvettes and (29 October–December).
2018 In 2018, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Northern Fleet's cruiser (11 August–12 November) and destroyer
Severomorsk (11 August–3 May 2019) as well as Baltic Fleet's frigate
Yaroslav Mudry (26 April–October). Between 1–8 September, the largest Russian post-Cold war naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea was conducted. Dubbed Ocean shield, it was the first iteration of Ocean shield exercises, which were in the next two years held in the Baltic Sea. 26 ships, 2 submarines and 34 aircraft were included. Among participants were cruiser
Marshal Ustinov, destroyers
Smetlivy and
Severomorsk, frigates
Admiral Grigorovich,
Admiral Essen,
Admiral Makarov,
Pytlivy and
Yaroslav Mudry, corvettes
Vishny Volochyok,
Grad Sviyazhsk and
Veliky Ustyug and conventional submarines
Kolpino and
Velikiy Novgorod. Aircraft present included Tu-160 bombers, Tu-142 and Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft and Su-33 and MiG-29K maritime fighters. This was the largest Russian naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea of the post-Cold War era and the largest Russian post-Cold War naval exercise in the far sea zone. In terms of distant location and number of capital ships participating it's comparable only to June 2021 exercises of the Pacific Fleet off the Hawaii islands.–30 October and 18 December–28 January 2020), destroyers
Vice-Admiral Kulakov (December 2019–January 2020) and
Severomorsk (11 August 2018–20 March).
2020 In 2020, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Northern Fleet's cruiser
Marshal Ustinov (18 December 2019–8 November), as well as Baltic Fleet's frigate
Yaroslav Mudry (March–April). The mainstay of the Squadron were Black Sea Fleet's frigates
Admiral Grigorovich (28 February–26 June and 29 December 2020–8 May 2021),
Admiral Essen (21 December 2019–11 April and 29 September–28 December) and
Admiral Makarov (28 February and 24 June–19 October). Naval units were supported by aircraft operating from the
Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. Units deployed included
Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers as well as
Su-24s,
Su-35s,
MiG-31s and
Tu-142MK and
Il-38 anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
2021 In 2021, the task force was temporarily strengthened by Baltic Fleet's corvette (29 December 2020–19 April 2021), Northern Fleet's frigate
Admiral Kasatonov (14 January–1 April) and destroyer
Vice-Admiral Kulakov (18 August–23 September) and Black Sea Fleet's cruiser
Moskva (18 June–5 July). In the summer, corvette
Gremyashchiy and submarines
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and
Volkhov transited the Mediterranean Sea on their way from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The mainstay of the Squadron were Black Sea Fleet's frigates
Admiral Grigorovich (24 December 2020–),
Admiral Makarov (2 May–13 August) and
Admiral Essen (18 June–30 October). On 25 May 2021, three Tu-22Ms maritime bombers were deployed to the Khmeymim airbase in Syria for the first time. The deployment took place after a significant boost in NATO amphibious capability in the Mediterranean earlier in 2021. French aircraft carrier
Charles de Gaulle has left Toulon for a deployment in the Persian Gulf via the eastern Mediterranean in mid-February. American aircraft carrier
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducted an exercise with the French helicopter carrier
Tonerre off Greece in March and, in May, British aircraft carrier
HMS Queen Elizabeth embarked on a maiden voyage to the Indian Ocean via the Mediterranean, where it will hold exercises with
Charles de Gaulle. On 25 June 2021, two anti-ship interceptors MiG-31K, armed with Kinzhal missiles were deployed to Khmeymim airbase for the first time and fired Kinzhal in an exercise the same day. They participated in a large-scale anti-ship exercise, which included cruiser
Moskva, frigates
Admiral Essen and
Admiral Makarov and submarines
Stary Oskol and
Rostov-on-Don, three bombers Tu-22M3, as well as anti-submarine aircraft Il-38 and Tu-142. The newest air defence system
S-500 was reportedly tested at Khmeymim airbase and obtained a lock on a F-35 fighter from the HMS
Queen Elizabeth. The exercise included rocket fire 30 km away from the HMS
Queen Elizabeth. The exercise took place during the deployment of the British aircraft carrier HMS
Queen Elizabeth to the Eastern Mediterranean and have coincided with aircraft carrier USS
Dwight D. Eisenhower reentering the Mediterranean Sea after three months in the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal on 1 July. On 16 November, British aircraft carrier HMS
Queen Elizabeth reentered the Mediterranean Sea through the
Suez Canal. Since the only Russian large surface combatant present in the area
Admiral Grigorovich was in the western Mediterranean Sea, taking part in Russo-Algerian naval exercise between 16 and 17 November, it's unclear whether Russia sent any ship at all to shadow the aircraft carrier, except for the airplanes. On 23 November,
Admiral Grigorovich was already reported off Tartus.
2022 During 2022, known Russian naval forces deployed with the task force reportedly included: • two
Improved Kilo-class submarines (
Novorossiysk (B-261) and
Krasnodar (B-265));
Novorossiysk redeployed to the Baltic for maintenance as of September 2022 • at least one Russian nuclear-powered submarine (later reported to be the
Yasen-class submarine Severodvinsk) entered the Mediterranean in August 2022 • two
Slava-class cruisers (
Varyag and
Marshal Ustinov;
Marshal Ustinov was reported to have left the Mediterranean in August 2022, likely returning to her home base on the
Kola Peninsula while
Varyag departed the Mediterranean in October via the Suez canal likely returning to the Pacific). • two
Udaloy-class destroyers (
Admiral Tributs and
Vice-Admiral Kulakov -
Vice-Admiral Kulakov departed the Mediterranean, in company with
Marshal Ustinov, late August 2022 while
Admiral Tributs departed the Mediterranean in company with
Varyag in October 2022) • the frigate
Admiral Gorshkov (entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, April 2023) • the frigate
Admiral Grigorovich (departed the Mediterranean for the Baltic April 2023) • the
Steregushchiy-class corvettes
Soobrazitelny and
Stoikiy (entered the Mediterranean in October 2022; departed the Mediterranean for the Baltic April 2023) In 2022, the Russian Navy operated in the Adriatic Sea for the first time since 1995
Volk's deployment amid US bombardment of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In late July, destroyer
Admiral Tributs operated off
Šibenik, intelligence ship
Vasily Tatishchev operated near island
Palagruža, cruiser
Varyag operated near
Durrës, while frigate
Admiral Grigorovich remained just outside the Adriatic Sea. As the US carrier
Truman was located in the Adriatic Sea at the same time, there were reports in media about Russian warships simulating blocking the US carrier in the Adriatic Sea. In August 2022, Russia deployed
Severodvinsk to the Mediterranean Sea, making it the first Russian nuclear submarine in the Mediterranean since
Kursk and
Tomsk in 1999.
Role in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine In conjunction with a build-up of Russian forces around Ukraine and in Belarus, Russia began to reinforce the task force in the Mediterranean toward the end of 2021. The principal movements involved the deployment of two
Slava-class cruisers -
Marshal Ustinov from the
Northern Fleet and
Varyag from the
Pacific Fleet - to the Mediterranean, together with additional escorts. At the same time, the submarine
Rostov Na Donu returned to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean just prior to the outbreak of hostilities. The movements strengthened Russian anti-surface group capabilities in the Mediterranean prior to the outbreak of war. Simultaneously,
Bastion-P anti-ship missile batteries were installed at the Russian base in Syria to improve its defensive capabilities. On 28 February 2022, four days after the outbreak of hostilities,
Turkey indicated that it was closing the
Dardanelles Straits to all foreign warships for the duration of the conflict. Turkish Foreign Minister,
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, argued that the move was consistent with terms of the
Montreaux Convention of 1936. An exception would be allowed for Russian ships returning from the Mediterranean to Black Sea bases where they were registered. The move limited Russia's ability to reinforce its naval units in the Mediterranean from the Black Sea though it also effectively confined NATO naval forces to the Mediterranean.
2023 The Russian missile corvette
Mercury 734, which is the fifth ship in
Project 20380 built at the
Severnaya shipyard, visited the
Port of Algiers in August 2023. This visit heralded increased collaboration between governments. Russia hopes to invest the
Sahel region by this means. Russia began a gradual withdrawal of its main warships from the Mediterranean since summer 2022. As of 15 October 2023, the number of Russian warships was six in October 2023. As of then, it included two missile corvettes, one anti-submarine warfare boat, one reconnaissance ship, one supply tanker and one floating shipyard. One analyst concluded that "Russia no longer considers the prospect of the group’s passing through the Turkish Straits realistic".
2024 The Improved Kilo II submarine from the
Pacific Fleet was assigned to the task force for most of 2024, being deployed there from 16 December 2023 until 29 September 2024. It was replaced by , which had previously been in the Baltic Sea.
Status as of 2025/26 As of mid-2025, the loss of the
Russian base at the port of Tartus in Syria, as a result of the
Fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, has significantly impacted the ability of the Russian navy to maintain an effective presence in the Mediterranean region. The closure of the
Turkish Straits as a result of the
Russo-Ukraine War has also negatively impacted the ability of the Russian navy to support its naval forces from its ports in the
Black Sea. This has compelled the Russian navy to sustain its forces by drawing on units based in its
Baltic and
Northern fleets. Whereas previously the Russian naval task force in the Mediterranean comprised up to fifteen warships and auxiliaries, as of mid-2025 the only major units operating in the region were the
Project 636.3 submarine Novorossiysk (B-261), the
frigate Admiral Grigorovich and one
Steregushchiy-class multi-role corvette. Russia's naval presence in the Mediterranean reportedly suffered a further setback in September when
Novorossiysk sustained serious damage as the result of a fuel system malfunction. As of mid-2025, Russia and Syria were reportedly engaged in negotiations about the future of Russian naval and air facilities in the country though it remained unclear how extensive Russia's military presence in Syria would be going forward. With the October surface-return of
Novorossiysk to the Baltic due to mechanical failure and a lack of maintenance facilities in the Mediterranean,
Naval News reported that the problem for Russia is not merely a single diesel-electric submarine, but rather "since losing its Syrian base at Tartus in 2024 and facing restrictions on movement through the
Bosporus, Russia’s Mediterranean task force has largely collapsed." As of March 2026, the Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean was limited to the
Corvette Stoikiy and the submarine
Krasnodar which herself departed the Mediterranean later in the month. Some limited Russian use of the Tartus facility appeared to have been restored. In early 2026,
Stoykiy was reported to be using the facility more regularly, including wharfs previously reserved for the Russian Mediterranean Flotilla. However, Russia also seemed increasingly to be looking at the ports of
Tobruk in
Libya as well as
Algiers as more consistent ports of call. ==Commanders==