Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DSEI Japan 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
    • Sea Air Space 2022
    • DIMDEX 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»Russian S-300 Missile System Slips Through Bosporus Towards War In Ukraine
MQ-9 STOL
Russian ship Sparta 2 carrying S-300 through Istanbul, Turkey
Screen capture of Sparta II, believed to be carrying S-300, passing through the Bosporus, Istanbul, Turkey. Via Yörük Işık

Russian S-300 Missile System Slips Through Bosporus Towards War In Ukraine

Russia is prevented from moving its warships from the Mediterrean to the Black Sea because Turkey closed the Bosporus to warships. The narrow straits control access. Yet Russia has been able to transport advanced weapons systems, such as S-300 missiles, through the straits to support the war in Ukraine.

H I Sutton 27 Aug 2022

Under the cover of darkness, a nondescript Russian cargo ship slipped through the Bosporus in Turkey. The narrow strait is the only waterway connecting the Mediterranean with the Black Sea. The ship, Sparta II, is suspected to have been carrying sophisticated weapons towards Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Russia is believed to have shipped S-300 air defense system from its bases in Syria to the Black Sea.

Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Turkey closed the Bosporus to warships. This stopped the Russian Navy from reinforcing its naval forces fighting against Ukraine. But merchant ships could still pass.

Sparta II’s destination was Novorossiysk, a Russian port and major naval base close to the Kerch Bridge. By implication, the S-300 missiles are to bolster defenses either near Kerch, or other areas of Russian operations. Crimea is seeing increased Ukrainian drone activity and they may be to boost defenses there.

The ship is understood to have sailed from Tartus in Syria, where S-300 components had been gathered on the pier. The S-300 likely came from a site at Masyaf in northern Syria. It started the voyage on August 20 and passed the Bosporus overnight on August 24-25. The transit was observed by respected ship spotter Yörük Işık. After waiting at anchor near the Russian coast, it pulled into Novorossiysk on August 27.

The ship is understood to be owned by Oboronlogistika, which in effect means the Russian Ministry of Defense. The ship has specifically been added to the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanction list. The crew is civilian, but it’s cargo is often military.

The S-300  is a capable air defense missile system roughly analogous to the U.S. made Patriot. It has been augmented by the newer S-400 and S-350 systems but remains a relevant frontline system. In May this year the S-300 site at Masyaf was reported to have fired missiles at Israeli jets. It is these same units which are believed to have been shipped to the Black Sea.

The shift of powerful air defenses from Syria to the Black Sea may be significant. It implies shortages of systems supporting the war in Ukraine. At the same time it weakens Russian and Assad regime forces in Syria.

Russia Ukraine 2022-08-27
Tags Russia Ukraine
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : H I Sutton
H I Sutton writes about the secretive and under-reported submarines, seeking out unusual and interesting vessels and technologies involved in fighting beneath the waves. Submarines, capabilities, naval special forces underwater vehicles and the changing world of underwater warfare and seabed warfare. To do this he combines the latest Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) with the traditional art and science of defense analysis. He occasionally writes non-fiction books on these topics and draws analysis-based illustrations to bring the subject to life. In addition, H I Sutton is a naval history buff and data geek. His personal website about these topics is Covert Shores (www.hisutton.com)

Related Articles

War in Ukraine: Western Navies See Lessons from Strategic to Tactical Levels

War in Ukraine: Western Navies See Lessons from Strategic to Tactical Levels

Dr Lee Willett 27 Jan 2023
The lessons emerging from the war in Ukraine for Western navies range from the strategic to the tactical levels, the chiefs of the French, UK, and US navies told the recent inaugural Paris Naval Conference.
Ukraine’s First MK VI Patrol Boat Breaks Cover

Ukraine’s First MK VI Patrol Boat Breaks Cover

Tayfun Ozberk 26 Jan 2023
The hull of the first of eight MK VI patrol boats bound to Ukraine just broke cover. A video published on 24 January by the Port of Tacoma shows its transfer to a SAFE Boats facility for outfitting.
Sudden Surge In Russian Navy Ships And Submarines In Black Sea

Sudden Surge In Russian Navy Ships And Submarines In Black Sea

H I Sutton 11 Jan 2023
This morning Russian Navy ships and submarines left their base at Novorossiysk, in the Black ...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok