spectre crouton
@spectrecrouton.bsky.social
Deep diving, original analysis and reporting on the Russian Navy and related maritime topics. Views expressed do not reflect those of my current or past employers, nor do they reflect the views of Vova (you know which one).
What I thought was a "probable Sviyazhsk-class missile patrol ship" turns out to be recently commissioned (August 2025) Bykov-class missile patrol boat Viktor Velikiy [archive image for comparison]
- ship is escorting M/V General Skobelev through Great Belt/Kattegat today
- ship is escorting M/V General Skobelev through Great Belt/Kattegat today
December 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
What I thought was a "probable Sviyazhsk-class missile patrol ship" turns out to be recently commissioned (August 2025) Bykov-class missile patrol boat Viktor Velikiy [archive image for comparison]
- ship is escorting M/V General Skobelev through Great Belt/Kattegat today
- ship is escorting M/V General Skobelev through Great Belt/Kattegat today
[1/2] Based on AIS reporting, RF Navy Pacific Fleet Baklazhan-class salvage/rescue tug Fotiy Krylov departed Vladivostok on 22 November with a stated destination of the Philippine Sea; tug is currently heading north in the East China Sea
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/detai...
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/detai...
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
[1/2] Based on AIS reporting, RF Navy Pacific Fleet Baklazhan-class salvage/rescue tug Fotiy Krylov departed Vladivostok on 22 November with a stated destination of the Philippine Sea; tug is currently heading north in the East China Sea
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/detai...
www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/detai...
Star Far East Shipyard has been ordered to pay Center for Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Technologies RUB 63,736,948 in non-payment + fines for a 2020 contract to repair/upgrade torpedo tubes on Oscar II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Irkutsk
December 3, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Star Far East Shipyard has been ordered to pay Center for Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Technologies RUB 63,736,948 in non-payment + fines for a 2020 contract to repair/upgrade torpedo tubes on Oscar II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Irkutsk
Future RF Navy Pacific Fleet Balk-class oceangoing tug Kapitan Sergeyev [IMO 9871919] is conducting builder's sea trials near Vladivostok
[Oct 2023-Jan 2024] tug transfers Novorossiysk to Vladivostok
[Mar-May 2024] tug undergoes repairs at Nakhodka Shipyard
[Jun 2024-Oct 2025] tug remains idle?
[Oct 2023-Jan 2024] tug transfers Novorossiysk to Vladivostok
[Mar-May 2024] tug undergoes repairs at Nakhodka Shipyard
[Jun 2024-Oct 2025] tug remains idle?
December 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Future RF Navy Pacific Fleet Balk-class oceangoing tug Kapitan Sergeyev [IMO 9871919] is conducting builder's sea trials near Vladivostok
[Oct 2023-Jan 2024] tug transfers Novorossiysk to Vladivostok
[Mar-May 2024] tug undergoes repairs at Nakhodka Shipyard
[Jun 2024-Oct 2025] tug remains idle?
[Oct 2023-Jan 2024] tug transfers Novorossiysk to Vladivostok
[Mar-May 2024] tug undergoes repairs at Nakhodka Shipyard
[Jun 2024-Oct 2025] tug remains idle?
At least four Sierra Leone-flagged hopper/dredgers have been operating in Bukhta Krasheninnikova (adjacent to Rybachiy Submarine Base) for the past several weeks.
Are there no RF-flagged hoppers or dredgers in RF Far East?
Are there no RF-flagged hoppers or dredgers in RF Far East?
December 1, 2025 at 10:14 PM
At least four Sierra Leone-flagged hopper/dredgers have been operating in Bukhta Krasheninnikova (adjacent to Rybachiy Submarine Base) for the past several weeks.
Are there no RF-flagged hoppers or dredgers in RF Far East?
Are there no RF-flagged hoppers or dredgers in RF Far East?
RF Navy Northern Fleet Ingul-class salvage/rescue tug Altay departed Severomorsk on 24 November; remains underway through today
- may be heading south in Norwegian Sea to rendezvous with RF Navy Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, currently heading north in Kattegat
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- may be heading south in Norwegian Sea to rendezvous with RF Navy Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, currently heading north in Kattegat
bsky.app/profile/spec...
November 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Ingul-class salvage/rescue tug Altay departed Severomorsk on 24 November; remains underway through today
- may be heading south in Norwegian Sea to rendezvous with RF Navy Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, currently heading north in Kattegat
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- may be heading south in Norwegian Sea to rendezvous with RF Navy Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, currently heading north in Kattegat
bsky.app/profile/spec...
German submarine (MMSI 211999999) and Russian Kilo-class submarine (escorted by MMSI 273542930) conducted northbound transits of the Great Belt this morning (04:00 and 09:00 local hours, respectively)
- both currently heading north in the Kattegat
- both currently heading north in the Kattegat
November 30, 2025 at 11:24 AM
German submarine (MMSI 211999999) and Russian Kilo-class submarine (escorted by MMSI 273542930) conducted northbound transits of the Great Belt this morning (04:00 and 09:00 local hours, respectively)
- both currently heading north in the Kattegat
- both currently heading north in the Kattegat
Upcoming missile firing activity in the Barents and White Seas:
- red closures in effect 3-6 December (03:00-17:00 daily)
- yellow closure in effect 3-10 Dec (06:00-15:00 daily)
- red closures in effect 3-6 December (03:00-17:00 daily)
- yellow closure in effect 3-10 Dec (06:00-15:00 daily)
November 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Upcoming missile firing activity in the Barents and White Seas:
- red closures in effect 3-6 December (03:00-17:00 daily)
- yellow closure in effect 3-10 Dec (06:00-15:00 daily)
- red closures in effect 3-6 December (03:00-17:00 daily)
- yellow closure in effect 3-10 Dec (06:00-15:00 daily)
RF Navy Baltic Fleet salvage/rescue tug Aleksandr Frolov (MMSI 273542930) departed Baltiysk today with a stated destination of Skagerrak, which may (or may not) indicate the tug is heading north to the Kattegat/Skagerrak area in the coming days
November 27, 2025 at 11:24 AM
RF Navy Baltic Fleet salvage/rescue tug Aleksandr Frolov (MMSI 273542930) departed Baltiysk today with a stated destination of Skagerrak, which may (or may not) indicate the tug is heading north to the Kattegat/Skagerrak area in the coming days
RF Navy Northern Fleet Muromets-class icebreaker Ilya Muromets (IMO 9820233 | MMSI 273542050) departed port on 24 October and remains underway through today
- not transmitting AIS
- not transmitting AIS
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Muromets-class icebreaker Ilya Muromets (IMO 9820233 | MMSI 273542050) departed port on 24 October and remains underway through today
- not transmitting AIS
- not transmitting AIS
Not good news for Yaroslavl Shipyard...
- shipyard lost 39 of 100 cases filed against it in 2025 (so far) + ordered to pay RUB 490,754,471 in damages/fines;
- many cases are under appeal/could be appealed;
- 49 other cases (RUB 552,765,329) still to be heard; many won't begin until 2026
- shipyard lost 39 of 100 cases filed against it in 2025 (so far) + ordered to pay RUB 490,754,471 in damages/fines;
- many cases are under appeal/could be appealed;
- 49 other cases (RUB 552,765,329) still to be heard; many won't begin until 2026
November 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Not good news for Yaroslavl Shipyard...
- shipyard lost 39 of 100 cases filed against it in 2025 (so far) + ordered to pay RUB 490,754,471 in damages/fines;
- many cases are under appeal/could be appealed;
- 49 other cases (RUB 552,765,329) still to be heard; many won't begin until 2026
- shipyard lost 39 of 100 cases filed against it in 2025 (so far) + ordered to pay RUB 490,754,471 in damages/fines;
- many cases are under appeal/could be appealed;
- 49 other cases (RUB 552,765,329) still to be heard; many won't begin until 2026
RF Navy Northern Fleet Udaloy I-class destroyer Admiral Levchenko departed port during evening hours on 20 November and remains underway through today
November 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Udaloy I-class destroyer Admiral Levchenko departed port during evening hours on 20 November and remains underway through today
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (possibly Generalissimus Suvorov) returned to port (Rybachiy) after two-week underway period (6-21 November)
November 21, 2025 at 9:24 PM
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (possibly Generalissimus Suvorov) returned to port (Rybachiy) after two-week underway period (6-21 November)
RF Navy Northern Fleet modified Sorum-class sonar surveillance ship Chusovoy (GS-31) conducted a northbound transit of the Great Belt today; in loose company with Vitse-Admiral Paromov
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
November 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
RF Navy Northern Fleet modified Sorum-class sonar surveillance ship Chusovoy (GS-31) conducted a northbound transit of the Great Belt today; in loose company with Vitse-Admiral Paromov
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
[1/5] According to AIS reporting, RF Navy Black Sea Fleet Barskov-class tanker Vitse-Admiral Paromov departed Kronshtadt on 17 November. With a stated destination of Cyprus (highly unlikely), it is probably heading to the Mediterranean Sea.
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
[1/5] According to AIS reporting, RF Navy Black Sea Fleet Barskov-class tanker Vitse-Admiral Paromov departed Kronshtadt on 17 November. With a stated destination of Cyprus (highly unlikely), it is probably heading to the Mediterranean Sea.
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan departed port on 15 October and remains underway through today (day 35 of patrol)
- Severodvinsk II-class submarine Arkhangelsk remains underway since 11 November
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- Severodvinsk II-class submarine Arkhangelsk remains underway since 11 November
bsky.app/profile/spec...
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan departed port on 15 October and remains underway through today (day 35 of patrol)
- Severodvinsk II-class submarine Arkhangelsk remains underway since 11 November
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- Severodvinsk II-class submarine Arkhangelsk remains underway since 11 November
bsky.app/profile/spec...
Future RF Navy Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Perm completed another (brief) round of sea trials in the White Sea (11-13 November)
November 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Future RF Navy Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Perm completed another (brief) round of sea trials in the White Sea (11-13 November)
RF Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy II-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Knyaz Pozharskiy departed port on 6 November and remains underway through today
- last underway period: 20-23 October
- last underway period: 20-23 October
November 15, 2025 at 11:05 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy II-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Knyaz Pozharskiy departed port on 6 November and remains underway through today
- last underway period: 20-23 October
- last underway period: 20-23 October
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Arkhangelsk departed port during early afternoon hours on 11 November and remains underway through today
- last underway period: 24-26 October
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- last underway period: 24-26 October
bsky.app/profile/spec...
November 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Arkhangelsk departed port during early afternoon hours on 11 November and remains underway through today
- last underway period: 24-26 October
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- last underway period: 24-26 October
bsky.app/profile/spec...
[1/7] U.S. Coast Guard spotted RF Navy Pacific Fleet Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship Kareliya (SSV-535) operating near Oahu, Hawaii, on 29 October.
Apparently, it took an end to the U.S. federal government shutdown for the report to be released.
Apparently, it took an end to the U.S. federal government shutdown for the report to be released.
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
[1/7] U.S. Coast Guard spotted RF Navy Pacific Fleet Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship Kareliya (SSV-535) operating near Oahu, Hawaii, on 29 October.
Apparently, it took an end to the U.S. federal government shutdown for the report to be released.
Apparently, it took an end to the U.S. federal government shutdown for the report to be released.
Interesting area closures in the Barents and White Seas:
red | in effect 17-18 November 03:00-15:00
green | in effect 19-20 November 03:00-15:00
blue | in effect 22-23 November 03:00-17:00
*correction; changed second 'green' to 'blue'
red | in effect 17-18 November 03:00-15:00
green | in effect 19-20 November 03:00-15:00
blue | in effect 22-23 November 03:00-17:00
*correction; changed second 'green' to 'blue'
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Interesting area closures in the Barents and White Seas:
red | in effect 17-18 November 03:00-15:00
green | in effect 19-20 November 03:00-15:00
blue | in effect 22-23 November 03:00-17:00
*correction; changed second 'green' to 'blue'
red | in effect 17-18 November 03:00-15:00
green | in effect 19-20 November 03:00-15:00
blue | in effect 22-23 November 03:00-17:00
*correction; changed second 'green' to 'blue'
Future RF Navy Obukhov-class (Project 12700) mine countermeasures ship "Polyarnyy" was towed from Middle Neva Shipyard to Kronshtadt last week in preparation for builder's sea trials
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Future RF Navy Obukhov-class (Project 12700) mine countermeasures ship "Polyarnyy" was towed from Middle Neva Shipyard to Kronshtadt last week in preparation for builder's sea trials
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
Dredging up the past: RF MOD sues Yaroslavl Shipyard for late delivery of two dredgers for RF Navy Northern and Pacific Fleets
November 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Dredging up the past: RF MOD sues Yaroslavl Shipyard for late delivery of two dredgers for RF Navy Northern and Pacific Fleets
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (possibly Knyaz Oleg) has been deployed for ~73 days as of 10 November
* corrected day count
* corrected day count
November 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (possibly Knyaz Oleg) has been deployed for ~73 days as of 10 November
* corrected day count
* corrected day count
[1/10] Is there enough time for future RF Navy Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Perm to complete builder's sea trials + state testing in the White Sea and then be commissioned by the end of 2025?
November 9, 2025 at 9:27 PM
[1/10] Is there enough time for future RF Navy Severodvinsk II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Perm to complete builder's sea trials + state testing in the White Sea and then be commissioned by the end of 2025?