The Russian surveillance ship Kildin, a 55-year-old intelligence vessel, suffered a fire last week off the Syrian coast. According to reports from U.S.-funded Radio Liberty, the fire, believed to have started in the engine room or stacks, burned for approximately five hours. The French navy, which observed the incident, confirmed that it began at about 1200 GMT on Thursday. Despite offers of assistance, Kildin declined aid from nearby vessels.
The Kildin, built in Soviet-controlled Poland, is part of a series of nine ships. Its current mission is believed to involve monitoring communications in Syria, likely to gather intelligence on the new government following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by the Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) group.
Evacuation Operations at Tartus
Satellite imagery taken Monday shows significant cargo movement at the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria, indicating ongoing evacuation efforts. For decades, Tartus has been Russia’s strategic Mediterranean seaport. Recent developments, including the fall of Assad’s regime, have forced Russia to consolidate its military presence.
Two military cargo ships, Sparta and Sparta II, were dispatched from the Baltic Sea and loitered off Syria’s coast for weeks amid reported negotiations. Over the past week, substantial equipment—believed to include S-400 air defense components—has been moved. Sparta II has since departed Tartus, while Sparta remains docked, with nearby staging areas filled with containers.
These movements signify Russia’s continued repositioning in response to changing political and military dynamics in Syria.
