In a new development, a Russian Navy ship normally based in Novorossiysk, has docked in the port of Ochamchire in Georgia. The port is in the Abkhazia region which is controlled by Russia. The local Russian-backed administration has claimed that the Russian Navy would establish a permanent base at the port.
The base is already home to a number of small FSB (Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation) patrol boats. This is the first significant naval ship visit observed since the claims.
The move is controversial since the port is in Georgia, which implies bringing Georgia into the Russo-Ukraine War. Russia could attempt to use the port as a refuge from attacks. And they could even a safe base to launch combat missions from. Ukraine’s options will be complicated because it is located on Georgian territory, despite being controlled by breakaway Abkhazia.
Unannounced Deployment May Be First Of Many
The ship is a Project 22870 support ship. It was observed docked in its home port of Novorossiysk on June 28. It was then missing on July 1, and observed in Ochamchire on July 4 and 5.
On July 3 Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) attacked Novorossiysk. Their Magura uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) struck the pier near to where the ship is normally docked when it is there. One hypothesis therefore, is that the ship was at sea and sought refuse from the attack in Ochamchire.
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022 Russia’s fleet dominated the Black Sea. It’s primary base was Sevastopol on Crimea. Since then it has lost a significant number of warships, and Sevastopol is vulnerable to USVs, mines, aerial drones and missiles. Consequently the majority of high value naval assets have been moved east to Novorossiysk. Here too, they ate under threat however. Ochamchire could thus offer a politically complicated hiding place from Ukrainian forces.
Whatever the exact reasoning, the ship is active in the Black Sea fleet and taking part in the Russo-Ukraine War.
Although the port is relatively small, it could easily host several larger warships. These could include landing ships or frigates. The larger ships can be docked stern-on to the key, as this one is, to increase the number of berths. Submarines have been based there in Soviet times.
Important Naval Asset In Black Sea
Although the Project 22870 ships are termed Rescue Tugs, they can be thought of as general purpose support ships. They often accompany combatants and have been known to carry missile systems during the ongoing war. This is the sister ship of the Vasily Bekh (SB-739) which was sunk by Ukrainian anti-ship missiles near Snake Island on June 17, 2022. At the time Vasily Bekh was carrying an SA-15 Gauntlet (‘Tor’) air defense missile system.
The ship in Ochamchire appears to have a vehicle or container on the aft deck which is consistent with SA-22 Greyhound (‘Pantsir’) missiles. Naval News has not been able to positively identify this object however.
There are three active in the Black Sea, SB-742, Professor Nikolay Muru, and Captain Guryev. A fourth, Vasily Bekh (SB-739), was sunk by Ukraine in 2022. We have not been able to positively identify which of the remaining three it is in Ochamchire.
It remains to be seen whether more Russian Navy ships will follow. Possibly the reaction of the Georgian government, and the international community, will be a factor in this. Analysts will likely be watching developments closely.
