Russia reportedly has no warships in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in over a decade, with one source describing its fleet as a "shambles". Russian President Vladimir Putin is reported to have withdrawn warships from the region to guard shadow oil tankers.
NATO official flags 'pretty significant' absence
A NATO official told The Telegraph there has been nothing in the Med since June for the first time in more than 10 years, adding this was "pretty significant". The official said: "They're not a global navy if they're not deployed all over the world... Russia clearly feels threatened."
It has not been possible to independently verify the claim. Russia has, however, recently started deploying warships to escort its commercial vessels.
Kremlin under pressure over shadow fleet seizures
The Kremlin is under mounting pressure as NATO countries board shadow fleet oil tankers and seize the vessels, sparking threats from Putin. Speaking on a visit to a Russian warship taking part in a naval exercise in the Pacific, Putin described the Western moves to detain vessels linked to Russia as a breach of international maritime law.
He said: "It's nothing but piracy and robbery. If this is done, we will be forced to respond in kind."
Warship stationed in English Channel
Moscow has had to keep a warship permanently stationed in the English Channel as a result of the crackdown by Ukraine's allies. The Neustrashimy is said to be in the Channel after taking over from the Admiral Grigorovich in July.
UK naval operations monitoring Russian activity increased 25% in July compared to the previous year as warships made repeated voyages through the Dover Strait and North Sea.
A NATO official told The Telegraph Russia has no oilers and the surface fleet has major issues, adding: "It's a shambles." An oiler is a naval ship used to refuel warships and supply jet fuel at sea.
The Admiral Grigorovich fired warning shots near a yacht crewed by a retired British couple south of the Isle of Wight in June. It happened two days after a suspected shadow-fleet tanker was seized by the Royal Marines as it sailed through the waterway, which is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The seizure of the tanker Smyrtos was the first time British troops directly boarded a shadow fleet vessel.
