One of the largest groups of russian vessels recorded since the start of the full-scale invasion has recently passed through the English Channel. Western intelligence sources suggest that these ships may have been transporting military equipment, with speculation that russia has moved all its military hardware from Syria to Ukraine following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, russian media reported on March 20.
The British Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary detected Syrian convoy transiting the Channel between Great Britain and Eurasia. British OSINT observers (UK Forces Tracker and Navylookout) suggest that this convoy may represent russia’s final evacuation of military assets from Syria.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: russian Sparta Il and Sparta Merchant Vessels Depart Tartus, Future of the Base in Question
Reports indicate that the Belgian Navy’s Castor patrol vessel identified russian Severomorsk destroyer in the North Sea on the night of March 15-16. The destroyer exited the English Channel into the Atlantic Ocean on March 16, escorted by the Royal Fleet’s Tidesurge ship. The Severomorsk destroyer later joined a convoy returning from Syria, which included the Alexander Shabalin landing ship and Maia-1 cargo vessel, a 138-meter ship sanctioned for transporting artillery shells from North Korea.
Open Source Centre highlighted concerns over sanctions enforcement, stating that the Maia-1 ship had successfully accessed multiple international ports despite being sanctioned. The vessel reportedly stopped in Chinese port for loading, received permission to visit Vietnam, transited the Suez Canal, refueled in Algeria, and then passed through the English Channel without interference.
The convoy also included the Sparta IV and Siyanie Severa vessels, with intelligence suggesting they all carried military equipment. This group, which recently navigated the UK and French territorial waters, stands out as one of the largest russian naval formations seen in the area since the full-scale invasion began, raising concerns about ongoing arms transfers and sanction evasion tactics.
Read more: russian Sparta vessel is Headed Towards Syria Again, while Damascus’ New Leadership Is Reportedly Urging Moscow to Withdraw
