Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 1h

🔺Research vessel activity - update

PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology owned RV “Akademik Ioffe” arrived back at homeport Kaliningrad, 12 October 2025.

⚠️Unit IPTX from St. Petersburg 10-12 October & could get underway for an autumn survey task next 1-2 weeks.

Library image courtesy of the Portuguese AF

2 9

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 4h

🔺OOA activity-Update

Russian Navy Pacific Fleet Pr.1155M BPK-543 “Marshal Shaposhnikov”, Pr.20385 SKR-337 “Gremyashchy” & Tanker “Boris Butoma” arrived in Da Nang, 12 October 2025.

⚠️Units conducting regional engagement PVST next 1-7 days.

1 7

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 9h

🔺OOA activity - Update

Russian COI “Sparta IV” likely escorted by Baltic Fleet Pr.20380 class SKR-532 “Boikiy” departed the Levant region, PM 10 October 2025, following a ~5-day PVST to an unknown port.

⚠️MV Sparta IV heading west, likely returning to the Baltic Sea.

Library image courtesy of Matt Coker of Coker Sea Fishing via Dover Strait shipping -FotoFlite

2 8

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 10h

🔺Northern Fleet - 🚀 Update

It is likely a SLCM/SLBM firing will occur in the Barents Sea, 12 October 2025.

It is unknown if the SLBM/SLCM launch is addition to SKR-456 “Admiral Golovko” possible 3M22 Zircon firing, or whether the SLCM/SLBM firing is the sole focus of the activity.

3 9

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 1d

@thelookout.bsky.social @thomasnilsen.bsky.social @puca.bsky.social @covertshores.bsky.social

6

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 1d

🔺Northern Fleet - Heads up! 🚀

There is a realistic possibility Russian Navy Northern Fleet Pr.22350 SKR-456 “Admiral Golovko” will conduct a certification firing of the 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile system (over max range at a littoral target ) on 12 October 2025.

Library image for illustration purposes only. Russian Military Press

1 17 47

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 2d

That new TEMPO matches up with MURM PRIP 313/25

6

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 2d

🔺OOA activity - Update

Russian Navy Baltic Fleet Pr.887 Smolny class training vessel AXT-300 “Smolny” had almost certainly departed Vilyuchinsk NVB in Kamchatka, 10 October 2025.

⚠️Unit arrived on 27 September & continues Naval Cadet cruise.

Library image from 27 September arrival at Vilyuchinsk. Russian Media

3 8

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 3d

🔺Russian surveillance - contd

The location of the PVO unit is unknow but it likely resides within the Leningrad MD.

It could not be determined if other Allied reconnaissance platforms warrant similar I&W reporting however, to date, no similar warnings have been detected in the Baltic theatre.

1 10

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 3d

🔺Russian surveillance - contd

The provision of maximum I&W time suggests the capability and/or tasking of these two SWAF platforms is of specific interest to Russa, such that it warns subordinate Forces to their imminent presence along the border of the Kaliningrad MD. ⬇️

1 2 10

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 3d

🔺Russian Baltic Surveillance activity 🧵

An unidentified Russian PVO Air Surveillance unit appears to be specifically reporting the operational departure of Swedish AF Korpen surveillance aircraft 102002 & 102003 from Malmen aerodrome. ⬇️

1 19 41

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 3d

🔺OOA activity - Update

RFN Baltic Fleet tug "Yakov Grebelskiy" & Black Sea Fleet Kilo SSK B-261 "Novorossiysk", completed eastbound transit of the English Channel & entered the NSEA, 9 October 2025.

⚠️Units returning to the Baltic Sea after OOA deployment to the Mediterranean.

Library image courtesy of Mr. Peter Ferrary

2 17

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you, that’s some unique closure!

3

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 3d

🔺OOA activity - Update

RFN Baltic Fleet tug "Yakov Grebelskiy", ICW Kilo SSK B-261 "Novorossiysk", will highly likely enter the NSEA, via Dover Strait eastbound passage, overnight, 8 October 2025.

⚠️Units returning to the Baltic Sea after OOA deployment to the Mediterranean.

2 14

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 5d

🔺Northern Fleet Air activity

A Russian Navy NFAF probable Tu-142 MPA conducted a 6-hr routine MARPAT in the Barents / Norwegian Sea area, 7 October 2025.

1 7

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 5d

🔺OOA activity - Update

Russian Navy Baltic Fleet tug "Yakov Grebelskiy", likely in company with Kilo B-261 "Novorossiysk", commenced EASTBOUND transit of the English Channel, 7 October 2025.

⚠️Unit(s) returning to the Baltic Sea following OOA deployment to the Mediterranean.

2 13

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 5d

EASTBOUND: FFS! apologies. oh well a good one to end on I suppose

3

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 7d

🔺Northern Fleet Air activity

A Russian Navy NFAF probable Tu-142 MPA conducted a 6-hr probable ASW patrol in the Barents Sea area, 5 October 2025.

6 17

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 7d

🔺Research vessel activity - Update

Russian AARI operated icebreaking RV “Akademik Tryoshnikov” returned to St. Petersburg, 5 October 2025, following a 2-month mission to the high Arctic.

⚠️Unit RAS’d (PAX/stores) & relocated AARI RV “Severny Polyus” to the east for its next environmental mission.

Image of Russian Arctic & Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) owned & operated scientific vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov for illustrative purposes only. Photograph courtesy of @Sprinter99800

2 19

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 8d

🔺Baltic Sea activity - Update

Russian Navy Baltic Fleet Pr.775 class BDK-110 "Alexandr Shabalin" highly likely departed the Fehmarn Belt loiter area, late PM 3 October 2025.

⚠️Unit ENR an assessed RTP Baltiysk but could conduct further loiter activity along the Polish littoral / SE Bornholm area.

9 35

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 9d

Thank you 👍🏻

2

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 9d

The sprint/drift behaviour is entirely consistent with Grebelskiy’s whole time OOA.

1 2

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 9d

@thelookout.bsky.social @puca.bsky.social @thomasnilsen.bsky.social

1 1 6

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 9d

⚠️ Arctic activity - Heads up!

There is an increased likelihood of an unspecified probable missile firing event occurring in the Arctic region, evening 2 October 2025, extending into 3 October.

1 4 28

Droxford Maritime @jjdroxford.bsky.social · 10d

🔺Digital Speech compression system

Replaced analogue enciphered & compressed systems which were very insecure almost from inception. Use of proprietary 2G ALE makes this user vulnerable from a SIGINT perspective.

Quite rare & a real treat to hear these days so worthy of post.

1 11